Beijing had evacuated more than 70,000 residents by Monday afternoon and warned others to brace for a new round of heavy rainfall, a week after catastrophic floods killed dozens in the deadliest deluge to hit the Chinese capital since 2012.

Beijing issued its highest alert for rainstorms on Monday, days after deadly deluges swept parts of the Chinese capital and triggered a rare apology from under-prepared officials.

Floods are becoming more common and more dangerous in many parts of the world. Heavier rainfalls, unpredictable storms, and outdated infrastructure make it harder for cities to cope. In China, that challenge has reached a breaking point.