Strong gales have swept across Beijing since Friday night, knocking down hundreds of trees and causing travel disruptions, with maximum gusts of up to 45.8 meters per second in mountainous areas, Reuters reports.
As of 15:00 Saturday, the capital's gardening department reported 843 fallen trees, all cleared. Over 21,956 people and 2,607 vehicles were deployed to deal with the damage.
One incident in western Beijing's Shijingshan District saw a 40-year-old tree, with a diameter of 70 centimeters, fall onto a minivan and disrupt power lines. After the accident, mobile generators were called in to provide power for residents while rescuers worked to clear the scene.
In the Fangshan District, strong winds ripped a metal roof off a factory building in an industrial area, blocking a road nearby. The relevant department responded swiftly to clear the debris. Traffic has resumed, and no injuries have been reported.
Beijing's two major airports experienced disruptions. As of 14:00 Saturday, Beijing Capital International Airport in the city north had operated 269 flights and canceled 429, including preemptive cancellations. Beijing Daxing International Airport in the south canceled 264 out of its planned 660 flights for the day.
After strong winds waned shortly in the morning, it intensified again at 10:00 local time, exceeding 24 meters per second across most of the city. The highest gust reached 45.8 meters per second in the Mentougou District's mountainous area, followed by 39 meters per second in the Fangshan District.
Beijing's emergency management department said that 7,430 people were evacuated safely. The essential services remain operational, including water, electricity, gas, heating, and commodity supplies.
The meteorological department predicts the gales will subside by Monday.
