Officials in Beijing have launched all-out disaster relief and rescue operations in the last four days after a fresh spell of intense rainstorms damaged roads, disrupted power supply, and prompted mass evacuations.

Local officials admit "loopholes in emergency planning" and say the incident is a painful lesson that serves as "a wake-up call".

Chinese state media say that 30 people have died in heavy rains and flooding in and around Beijing, raising the death toll from the flooding in the region to 34.