Relief efforts intensified as rain death toll mounts

Torrential rainfall in Beijing and its neighboring areas since last week resulted in more than 60 deaths, including 31 residents of an elderly care center in the capital's Miyun district, while over 30 were missing as of Thursday, according to local authorities.

Intensive relief efforts are underway in affected districts of Beijing and Tianjin and in Hebei province, with the maximum focus on repairing damaged infrastructure, strengthening flood defenses and enhancing disaster preparedness.

Flash floods triggered by the Qingshui River early on Monday sent water gushing into Taishitun town in Miyun, trapping residents and attendants at the elderly care center, according to officials who held a news briefing on Thursday.