Heavy rainstorm hits Beijing

Heavy rainstorm has lashed the Chinese capital Beijing since 6 p.m. Sunday with precipitation up to 116.4 mm, according to the municipal flood control department.

From 6 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday, Beijing registered average rainfall of 65.9 mm. Urban areas of the city reported higher average precipitation of 79.9 mm.

A total of 203 meteorological stations in the city recorded over 50 mm of rain. Among them, 43 witnessed rainfall exceeding 70 mm.

Meanwhile, the districts of Fangshan, Mentougou, Changping, Haidian, Shijingshan, Yanqing and Huairou were hit by gales up to 9 grades, which means the wind speed topped 24.4 meters per second.

Flood safety inspections on Beijing's main bridge areas and road facilities have been carried out by 2,906 personnel, said the municipal flood control department.

The city's 57 rainwater pumping stations have been put into operation, with a cumulative drainage and storage capacity of 140,000 cubic meters.

Rainstorms are expected to continue in Beijing on Monday, with precipitation up to 75 mm, which will weaken late in the afternoon and end at night, forecast the weather department.

Beijing municipality has issued yellow alerts for rainstorm, lightning, gale and rain-triggered geological hazards.

The weather department alerted people to heavy rainstorm and potential geological hazards and asked them to keep away from rivers and disaster-prone areas.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.