Beijing Officials Admit Gaps in Readiness After Heavy Rain Kills 44

Beijing city officials admitted on July 31 they had not been prepared for heavy rain that soaked swathes of the capital, killing 44 people and leaving nine still missing.

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BEIJING -

Parts of northern China had endured deadly rain and floods since last week that forced the evacuation of tens of thousands.

The capital's rural suburbs were hardest hit, officials said, raising the toll from the 30 announced on July 29.

"As at midday on July 31, some 44 people have died and nine are still missing as a result of the disasters across the whole of Beijing," top city official Xia Linmao told a news conference.

"Between July 23 and 29, Beijing suffered extreme rainfall," he said, adding that this had caused "significant casualties and (other) losses".

Out of those deaths, 31 took place at an elderly care centre in the town of Taishitun in the north-east of the city, Mr Xia said.