On Tuesday, the Chinese government reported that torrential rain in areas surrounding Beijing, the country’s capital, resulted in the death of at least 20 people, with 27 individuals still reported missing.

The heavy flooding wreaked havoc, causing damage to roads, uprooting trees, and causing power outages.

In response to the emergency, thousands of residents were evacuated to shelters located in schools and other public buildings in suburban Beijing, as well as in the nearby cities of Tianjin and Zhuozhou.

The severity of the flooding caught Beijing by surprise, as the city typically experiences dry summers, the Associated Press reports.

However, this year saw a stretch of record-breaking heat. In contrast, other regions in China, particularly in the south, have faced unusually severe summer floods that have resulted in numerous fatalities.

Concurrently, some parts of the country are also grappling with drought conditions.