Chinese authorities have reported that 44 people have died and nine remain missing following the torrential rains that flooded large parts of Beijing over the past week.

“As of noon on July 31, the number of fatalities caused by the disasters in Beijing has reached 44, and nine people remain unaccounted for,” said senior city official Xia Linmao at a press conference. According to him, between July 23 and 29, the capital experienced extreme rainfall that led to “significant casualties and other losses.”

Of the total fatalities, 31 occurred at a nursing home in Taishitun, a town in northeastern Beijing, Xia specified. The individuals currently missing include local officials involved in search and rescue operations.

“On behalf of the municipal party committee and the city government, I express deep sorrow for the deceased and sincere condolences to their families,” he added.

Large areas of northern China have been hit by deadly floods over the past week, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.

A Beijing official acknowledged “shortcomings” in the city’s preparedness for such extreme weather events. “There were flaws in our contingency plans. We lacked sufficient awareness of extreme weather. This tragic lesson reminds us that putting people and human life first is not just a slogan,” said Yu Weiguo, head of the ruling Communist Party in the severely affected Miyun district. |BGNES