Massive rains cause Beijing flood chaos | Bangkok Post: news

BEIJING: The heaviest rain to hit Beijing in 61 years left at least 10 people dead over the weekend, while more downpours were forecast for northeast and southwest China, according to state press.

Torrential rain pounded the capital all day Saturday, leading to the evacuation of more than 30,000 people, mostly from Beijing's outlying mountainous districts, the Xinhua news agency said.More than 500 flights were cancelled at Beijing's Capital International Airport, the Beijing News said.However, the subway system was largely unaffected, aside from being swamped with people desperate to get home and unable to use cars, buses or taxis.The city received about 170mm of rain on average, though a township in Fangshan District to Beijing's west was hit by 460mm (18.1 inches), Xinhua said.The Beijing city government said on its website (www.beijing.gov.cn) it was working to get the metropolis back on its feet, but reminded people to prepare for further bad weather."The weather forecasters say that from late July to early September this city is prone to flooding, and there could be further large-scale storms or extreme weather," it said.A policeman who was electrocuted by a fallen power line during a rescue operation was among the fatalities, while others were killed in traffic accidents and roof collapses, it said.One woman died after her car was engulfed with water in an underpass on Beijing's central second ring road that was flooded with up to three metres of water.The death toll could rise with media reports Sunday saying numerous people, including rescue workers, were missing.Meanwhile three bodies were recovered Sunday in Beijing's mountainous Fangshan region where...