30 de@d following heavy rains in Chinese capital

Heavy rains in the Chinese capital Beijing have killed 30 people and prompted authorities to evacuate 80,000, state media said Tuesday, July 29.

“The latest round of heavy rainstorms has left 30 people dead in Beijing as of midnight Monday, July 28,” state news agency Xinhua said, citing the city’s municipal flood control headquarters.

Over 80,000 people have been evacuated in the Chinese capital alone, local state-run outlet Beijing Daily said on social media.

It added that “continuous extreme heavy rainfall caused major disasters”.

The de@th toll was highest in Miyun, a suburban district northeast of the city centre, it said.

Also badly affected were Huairou district in the north of the city and Fangshan in the southwest, state media said.

Dozens of roads have been closed and over 130 villages have lost electricity, Beijing Daily said.

“Please pay attention to weather forecasts and warnings and do not go to risk areas unless necessary,” the outlet said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged authorities late Monday to plan for worst-case scenarios and rush the relocation of residents of flood-threatened areas.

In Hebei province, which encircles the capital, a landslide in a village near the city of Chengde k!lled four people, with eight still missing, state broadcaster CCTV reported Monday.