※  Torrential rain in 61 years hits Beijing

The heaviest rain in 61 years hit Beijing, capital of China, on July 21, 2012. The average rainfall was as high as 164 mm until July 22. Beijing Meteorological Station successively released five alerts for torrential rains within one day.

Persistent torrential rains triggered flooding across the capital city and more than 43,000 residents in districts of Fangshan, Huairou, Mentougou and Pinggu as well as Miyun and Yanqing, counties were relocated.

In Fangshan, where the maximum precipitation reached 460 mm in Hebei Township, the road traffic was disrupted in 12 townships. Mobile telecommunication services and Internet access got cut off in six townships. Train services between Beijing and Guangzhou were suspended as that railway line section was completely inundated.

This torrential rain, triggering flood, caused the direct economic loss of 10 billion yuan (about 1.6 billion US dollars), and claimed about 80 lives.

 • In pictures:  Record floods cause traffic chaos in Beijing