Strong gales have swept across Beijing

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. As of 15:00 Saturday, the capital’s gardening department reported 843 fallen trees, all cleared.

Over 21,000 people and about 2,600 vehicles were deployed to deal with the damage. One incident in western Beijing 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. The meteorological department predicts the gales will subside by Monday.