China: More than forty dead in torrential rains
The death toll from torrential rains in Beijing has risen to 44, with nine missing, with most of the deaths occurring in a nursing home, authorities announced Thursday, July 31.
Parts of northern China, particularly the capital, have been hit by deadly floods in recent days, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee their homes. According to the latest report as of Thursday at noon local time, "44 people have died and nine are missing," Xia Linmao, a senior municipal official, said at a press conference.
"Between July 23 and 29, Beijing experienced extreme rainfall," he added, specifying that it had caused "significant human losses," with 31 deaths recorded in a nursing home.
A previous report put the death toll at 30 in the Chinese capital, with the affected areas mainly located in semi-rural areas, around 100 kilometers from the city center.
"On behalf of the municipal (Communist) Party committee and the city government, I would like to express my deep sorrow for those who unfortunately lost their lives, as well as my sincere condolences to their loved ones," Xia Linmao said.
Natural disasters are common in China, especially during the summer, when some regions are submerged by torrential rains while others are plagued by drought.
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