Beijing city officials admitted on Thursday they had not been prepared for heavy rains that soaked swathes of the capital, killing 44 people and leaving nine still missing.

At least 38 people have died in the Chinese capital region after it was battered by almost a year’s worth of rain in a handful of days.

Heavy rains and flooding have killed at least 30 people in Beijing, after a year’s worth of rain fell in less than a week, according to state media. Beijing authorities said they have relocated a further 80,000 residents as rain continues.