CHINA: 150 flights grounded

BEIJING (AP):

Parts of Beijing have been flooded by torrential rain, and airport officials say the downpour forced the cancellation of 150 flights.

Water poured into underground crossings and subway stations and submerged cars in low-lying areas yesterday afternoon. Some parts of the city received 2 inches (50 millimeters) of rain in just a few hours, sending crowds scrambling for whatever shelter they could find.

Flooded roadways snarled traffic and some subway stations were temporarily closed. Beijing has a generally dry climate, although summer storms can be violent.

Catastrophic flooding this year in central and eastern China has left at least 175 dead and 86 missing and caused 35 billion yuan (US$5 billion) in direct economic losses.