BEIJING: The death toll from the worst rains to hit Beijing in more than 60 years has reached 77, more than doubling previous figures, China's official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday. Beijing authorities had announced late on Sunday that 37 people had died after freak rains caused rivers to burst their banks and flood major highways, submerging large numbers of vehicles.

Many residents of China's sprawling capital had expressed doubts about the official toll, believing the true figure to be much higher.

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