The dayslong rainstorms have killed 30 people in the Chinese capital and eight in its neighboring province of Hebei, state-run broadcaster CCTV said.

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.

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