"Xi's pet project leads to sacrifice of Chinese towns in flood crisis"

Satellite imagery and firsthand accounts reveal that the Chinese government's efforts to protect Beijing and the Xiong'an New Area from flooding during Typhoon Doksuri resulted in the devastation of rural villages in Hebei province. Authorities diverted water away from urban areas, causing a dramatic increase in water levels in rural regions, destroying homes and livelihoods. The decision to sacrifice rural areas for the sake of protecting cities reflects a long-standing approach in China's flood management system. The government's failure to enforce regulations and control population growth in flood zones has exacerbated the damage. The economic cost of the flooding in Hebei province amounted to $13 billion, with at least 29 people dead and 1.75 million people displaced.