Beijing: The death toll from the heavy rains that have battered the Chinese capital, Beijing, since last week has risen to 44 people, with nine missing, amid authorities’ acknowledgement of gaps in “civilian preparedness.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Chinese capital’s top official, Xia Linmao, said during a press conference on Thursday that 44 people have been recorded killed in the rains, while nine remain missing as a result of the heavy rains that hit the capital between July 23 and 29. He considered them to have caused “a large number of casualties and other damage.”

He explained that 31 of the deaths were in a nursing home in Taishitun Town, northeast of the city, adding that the missing are local officials working in search and rescue.

In a related context, Yu Weiguo, the ruling Communist Party leader in the hardest-hit Miyun prefecture, stated that “there were gaps in the preparation plans… and there was a lack of information about severe weather conditions,” adding, “This tragedy reminded us that prioritizing people and human lives is not just a slogan.”

Large parts of northern China have experienced heavy rains and flooding since last week, leading to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.