China Central Television (CCTV) reported today that 28 people died in Miyun district, one of the hardest-hit areas in the capital, and two others in Yanqing district. Both are suburban districts, far from the city center.

Premier Li Qiang said the heavy rain and flooding in Miyun caused "serious casualties" and called for intensified rescue and relief efforts.

Floodwaters inundate fields in Miyun district, Beijing, China, on 28/7. _Photo: Reuters_

Heavy rain continued to lash the area overnight. More than 80,000 people have been evacuated in Beijing, including about 17,000 in Miyun. Authorities released water from a reservoir in Miyun, where water levels reached their highest since its construction in 1959.

Officials urged residents to stay away from rivers downstream as water levels rise and more heavy rain is forecast. Floodwaters swept away cars and downed power lines in Miyun, which borders Luanping county in Hebei province. A landslide in Luanping on 28/7 killed 4 people and left 8 missing.

In Taishitun township, Miyun county, about 100 km northeast of central Beijing, floods uprooted trees, inundated streets, and left homes coated in mud.

"The flood came very fast and suddenly. In no time, the whole place was submerged," resident Zhuang Zhelin said as his family cleaned up the mud.

"There was water everywhere. I couldn't do anything but run upstairs and wait for rescue. I thought if no one came to save us, we would be in big trouble," said Wei Zhengming, a traditional medicine practitioner.

Flooding after heavy rain in Miyun district, Beijing, on 28/7. _Photo: AP_

Beijing authorities activated the highest level of emergency response from 8 p.m. on 28/7, urging residents to stay home, closing schools and construction sites, and suspending outdoor tourism and other activities until the warning is lifted.

Beijing forecasts that some areas will see up to 300 mm of rain today. 10,000 people have been evacuated from Jizhou district in nearby Tianjin.

The Chinese government also announced 50 million CNY (7 million USD) in aid for Hebei province to cope with the floods, and dispatched an emergency response team to support affected cities, including Chengde, Baoding, and Zhangjiakou.

Hong Hanh (_According to CCTV, AP_)