STORY: Beijing on high alert as heavy rain continues
DATELINE: July 31, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:01
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of Beijing
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): DENG QIYUAN, Fire rescue team, Haidian District
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHAO GUANCHAO, Beijing MTR Corporation Limited
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LI ZHIGANG, Beijing Drainage Group Co., Ltd
 
STORYLINE:
 
China's capital Beijing has continued the highest level alert on Monday as downpours continue to lash the city.
 
Meteorological authorities in Beijing maintained a red alert for rainstorms on Monday morning due to forecasts of torrential rain between 10 a.m. Monday and 8 a.m. Tuesday, and warned that small- and medium-sized rivers could experience flash floods and landslides.
 
As of 10 a.m. Monday, operations on 275 bus lines run by Beijing Public Transport Corporation were affected, and several train routes in the suburban areas suspended service. 
 
All scenic spots in the city were closed off, sport games suspended and residents were advised to cancel unnecessary outdoor activities.
 
According to the Beijing Emergency Management Bureau, the city has dispatched more than 3,100 flood control and rescue teams with more than 200,000 people taking multiple measures to cope with the heavy rain.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): DENG QIYUAN, Fire rescue team, Haidian District
"We've 16 fire stations on duty in Haidian District, as well as 30 small-sized power stations on standby. 1,105 fire commanders participate in our rescue missions to ensure that all the responsible personnel are on duty."
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHAO GUANCHAO, Beijing MTR Corporation Limited
"We have carried out drills and skills training for our staff to ensure that they can respond properly and effectively when emergency happens. We have 12 metro trains that are on standby to ensure the travel of passengers."
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LI ZHIGANG, Beijing Drainage Group Co., Ltd
"Our truck is equipped with a small hydraulic workstation. If there is an emergency, we can drain water from submerged areas in time. This pump has a lifting capacity of 90 cubic meters per hour."
 
Latest data shows that from 8 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Monday, the average rainfall in Beijing was 157.8 mm, with the maximum rainfall exceeding 538 mm in a village in the suburban Fangshan District.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)