Extreme weather in northern China has killed at least 60 people over the past week, including 31 residents of a Beijing nursing home swept away by one of the capital’s deadliest floods in years, officials said.
In Beijing, 44 people were killed and nine were missing as of midday Thursday, deputy mayor of Beijing, Xia Linmao, said at a press conference.
Heavy rains began a week ago and peaked around Beijing and surrounding provinces Monday, with Miyun experiencing rainfall of up to 573.5 millimeters (22.6 inches) – levels local media described as "extremely destructive." The average annual rainfall in Beijing is around 600 millimeters.
In the nearby province of Hebei, 16 people died as a result of the intense rainfall, authorities said.
At least eight were killed in the city of Chengde just outside Beijing, with 18 unaccounted for.
