Beijing's largest storm in 60 years has caused widespread destruction and tragedy throughout China's capital, leaving 37 people dead. The rainstorm that started on July 21 created a record breaking 16 inches of rain and has caused 10 billion Yuan or $1.6 billion in flood damage. It has also stranded 80,000 travelers with flight delays on over 500 canceled flights and 56,933 people have been evacuated from their homes.
The storm started on Saturday afternoon and continued late into the night flooding everything in its path including major roads and underpasses. According to Beijing's city government's official microblog, they stated that out of the 37 people who have died, 25 drowned, six were crushed in collapsing homes, five were electrocuted and one was struck by lightning.
"My husband was washed away while he was driving," said one middle-aged woman to The UK's The Guardian newspaper.
The township in Fangshan District in the west of Beijing was hit the hardest with 18.1 inches of rain, the average in the city being 6.7 inches. The Beijing city government said on its website that it was working to get Beijing back on its feet.
"The weather forecasters say that from late July to early September this city is prone to flooding, and there could be further large-scale storms or extreme weather," it said.
Though the storm has receded, many residents are angered with the government's response and have said that the government should have warned residents about the danger earlier on. China's The Global Times newspaper, acknowledged the fact that Beijing's sewer system was in need of renovation. "If so much chaos can be triggered in Beijing, the capital of the nation, problems in urban infrastructure of many other places can only be worse," it said.
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