Beijing Rainstorm Kills 32 at Nursing Home; 17 Officials Held Accountable

In July 2023, a severe rainstorm struck Beijing's Miyun District, triggering catastrophic flooding at the Taishitun Town Elderly Care Centre that resulted in 32 deaths. The disaster occurred when the Qingshuihe River and its tributaries experienced overlapping flood peaks following continuous heavy rainfall, producing record-breaking floodwaters that overwhelmed the facility. An official investigation report, approved by the State Council Standing Committee and released on June 18, 2026, determined the deaths constituted a major natural disaster and identified deficiencies in prevention and response measures by local government and relevant departments.

In response, the Beijing Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision held 17 public officials accountable across nine municipal units, including the Miyun District Party Committee, District Government, Beijing Water Affairs Bureau, and Beijing Civil Administration Bureau. Senior officials disciplined included Yu Weiguo, former Party Secretary of Miyun District, and Yu Haibo, Deputy Party Secretary and District Mayor, each receiving serious Party disciplinary warnings. Additional sanctions ranged from dismissal of Party posts and administrative positions to various levels of administrative penalties. Chen Jie, former Party Secretary of Taishitun Town, was removed from his Party post and dismissed from his administrative position.

Operational consequences were swift: the elderly care facility's registration as a nursing institution was revoked, and its operating entity, the Miyun District Xiaguang Social Work Affairs Bureau, had its registration as a private non-enterprise organization cancelled. The rainfall occurred between July 23-28, with the most severe flooding striking on July 28. Following the disaster, Beijing's municipal authorities implemented comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation reforms, enhanced early warning and monitoring systems, conducted risk assessments, and strengthened urban flood resilience to protect public safety and prevent future losses.