China’s tech giants from Alibaba to ByteDance rush to donate hundreds of millions to flood-hit areas as Doksuri hammers northern China

China’s Big Tech firms from Alibaba Group Holding to ByteDance have pledged to donate hundreds of millions of yuan for flood relief efforts in the capital city of Beijing and its neighbouring regions, after Tropical Storm Doksuri brought a rare downpour that killed 11 people.

ByteDance, the Beijing-based owner of TikTok, said on Wednesday that it would donate 100 million yuan (US$13.9 million) to provide disaster relief in flooded areas, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province and Fujian province. The company also said it helped locate seven missing people through hashtags and live streams on its short video app Douyin.

Tencent Holdings said on Wednesday that it has topped up its donation by another 100 million yuan for the flood-hit areas, while e-commerce giant Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, said that its charity foundation will donate 30 million yuan and that it is working with other charity organisations through its Taobao platform.

Smartphone and gadget brand Xiaomi said it would donate 25 million yuan, while electric vehicle maker Li Auto pledged 20 million yuan. E-commerce giant JD.com also said on Wednesday that it would donate 30 million yuan worth of materials to the flood-hit areas.

On Wednesday morning, Beijing-based ride hailing firm Didi Chuxing dispatched several teams of drivers who are also professionally trained as rescuers, to participate in flood relief efforts in areas neighbouring the capital city.

Typhoon Doksuri, after making a landfall in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian last week, moved north and deeper inland to hit Beijing and other parts of northern China earlier this week.