Cluster

Beijing floods caused significant losses

PG
Wednesday, 25-July-2012

BEIJING: Weekend floods in Beijing caused "significant losses" and casualty numbers are still being tallied, the head of the worst-hit district has said, as residents of China's capital question the official toll.

Authorities in Beijing have still not updated a statement issued late Sunday that said 37 people had been killed in Saturday's freak rain, the heaviest since records began more than 60 years ago, with another seven still missing.

But many residents of the city believe the true figure may be much higher, after rivers burst their banks and flooded major highways, submerging large numbers of vehicles.

In the worst-hit area of Fangshan, on the city's mountainous southwestern outskirts, distraught residents spoke of cars being swept away and said many people were still missing.

"The casualties, which is what everyone cares about, have brought about significant losses, and we are currently coming closer to tallying them up," Fangshan leader Qi Hong said in a briefing broadcast late Tuesday on state television.

Beijing city spokeswoman Wang Hui, addressing concerns expressed on China's hugely popular microblogs, or weibos, insisted authorities would not cover up the true number of deaths.

The city government "will make an announcement as soon as possible", Wang said at a briefing Tuesday, acknowledging that the lack of official updates had given rise to public suspicion.

Saturday's storm is estimated to have caused losses of five billion yuan ($780 million) and destroyed 8,200 homes, Wang said.

The state-run Xinhua news agency said emergency workers had pulled 84 vehicles from waters submerging a major highway between Beijing and Hong Kong. Three bodies were found, it said.Many microbloggers have said some of the death and destruction could have been avoided if the government had issued proper warnings and modernised ancient drainage systems.

Censors have deleted posts criticising the official response to the disaster in China's rapidly modernising capital, which came at a time of heightened political sensitivity ahead of a 10-yearly handover of power.

City propaganda chief Lu Wei told media outlets to stick to stories of "achievements worthy of praise and tears", the Beijing Times daily reported this week, as authorities tried to stem a tide of accusations that they had failed to do enough.

Top Stories

Baghdad bombings claim 46 lives

BAGHDAD: Two bombings near a Sunni mosque north of Baghdad and at one at funeral in south killed at least 46 people and...

Pak should take serious notice of Altaf’s remarks: UK HC

LONDON: British High Commissioner (HC), Adam Thomson has said that UK police have received countless complaints against...

Gilchrist damages RCB's chances

BANGALORE: Adam Gilchrist’s unbeaten 85 off 54 balls, helped by Azhar Mahmood's 61 off 41, stunned Royal Challengers Ba...

Sindh: More than 154,000 polling staff to perform election duty

KARACHI: More than 154,000 staff will perform election duty at 14,980 polling stations across Sindh province, media repo...

Curfew in Hangu after attack on JUI-F rally kills ten

HANGU: A curfew was imposed in Hangu district after an explosion targeting a Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) candidate...

Bangladesh builds lead as it seeks to level series

Bangladesh take lead to 272 runs by stumps on Day 3HARARE: Bangladesh bowled Zimbabwe out for 282 and built a 272-run le...

Error-strewn Murray in shock Monaco exit

MONTE CARLO, Monaco, April 18, 2013 (AFP) - Roger Federer will return to second in the ATP standings next week after And...

Nawaz for level playing field for all in election

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that all the political parties should be provid...

Boston police retract report of third explosion

BOSTON, Massachusetts: Boston police said Monday that what was initially thought to have been a third explosion in the c...

Govt orders to beef up security of ECP offices, political leaders

ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry has decided to tighten security of Election Commission offices and political leaders. A...

EC changes tribunal for hearing appeals against Sharif brothers

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has changed the tribunal for hearing the appeals against Pakistan M...

Governor announces cash reward for CID police

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan has announced Rs2 million cash reward for the CID personnel over successf...

Two bodies found at Kharan, Hub

HUB: Two persons’ bodies were found at Kharan on Saturday morning here, media reported. Awaran S.P. Muhammad Rafiq Lasi ...

Violation of contracts by Libyan firms

Embassy takes serious notice of Pakistanis complaints Islamabad: The Head of Mission of Embassy of Libya in Islamabad h...

Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals: IPL

JAIPUR: Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and elected to field against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL clash at the Sawai...

'World's greatest' chef Adria seeks digital legacy

HONG KONG: From foie gras noodles and liquid olives to air baguettes and mimetic peanuts, much of what elBulli chef Ferr...

2 killed as police van ambushed in Gujranwala

GUJRANWALA: At least two persons were killed and four others sustained injuries as unknown armed people opened fire on p...

Dollar firms in Asia

TOKYO: The dollar firmed against the yen and euro in Asia Wednesday, boosted by solid US economic data and a bleak outlo...

N Korea hints at reform with new PM

SEOUL In the middle of an escalating military crisis on the Korean peninsula, North Korea's appointment this week of an ...

Weather turns pleasant as rain lash Islamabad, Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: Weather turned pleasant in Islamabad and Rawalpindi as twin cities received rain here on Monday. According to...

PukhtoonistanGazette

Cluster

Beijing floods caused significant losses

Top Stories

Feature / Analysis

Opinion