Death toll from Beijing rainstorm spirals to 77

The official number of victims from the rainstorm that battered Beijing on Saturday has climbed to 77 from a previous estimate of 37, with 38 of the victims found in the severely-hit district of Fangshan, state media reported. Forty-six of the deaths were due to drowning; the rest were caused by electrocution, mudslides, traumatic shock, lightening and injuries incurred by falling objects and collapsing houses. Pan Anjun, a spokesman for the Beijing flood headquarters, said that a further dramatic increase in the death toll was unlikely as the search for missing persons was coming to a close. The updated death toll was met by criticism for the lack of information, including from state mouthpiece People’s Daily. China’s online censors have been cracking down on stronger statements of protest, including complaints that Beijing’s hefty outlays on infrastructure in previous years were not able to avert the disaster.