China: Thirty-Seven Killed In Record Beijing Rains

Thirty-seven people were killed as the heaviest downpours in more than half a century have flooded China’s capital, Beijing, state-run new agency Xinhua reported.

Only 22 victims were identified. Most of them drowned, but some were killed by houses brought down by the flood or electrocuted, and one was hit by lightning, the report said.

Some 14,500 Beijing residents have been evacuated from flood-hit areas as of early Sunday, China Network Television (CNTV) said on its website.

Heavy rains began in Beijing on Saturday morning, with 220 mm of rain falling over the city of 14 million, the report said. The rains were the heaviest to hit China’s capital in 61 years.

The biggest precipitation occurred in the suburban district of Fangshan, hitting 460 mm.

The downpours turned roads into rivers in many parts of the city, and pictures published on the CNTV website showed cars submerged in muddy water.

Some 100,000 people have been mobilized for rescue work, CNTV said, quoting top city official Guo Jinlong.