Six missing in Beijing downpour

BEIJING - Six people remain missing after a torrential downpour hit western Beijing Sunday afternoon, the municipal government said Monday.

Altogether 11 people were reported missing in Zhaitang Township of Mentougou District in the far west of Beijing, after torrential rain and an influx from the upper reaches of a local river, the Beijing government press office said on its Weibo account.

"Five of them had been found as of 5 a.m.," it said without giving details.

The post did not identify the missing people, but said search and rescue work was under way.

Rain hit Beijing Saturday afternoon. In the mountainous Zhaitang Township, precipitation measured 6 to 10 millimeters.

Zhaitang, about 100 km from downtown Beijing, has 17,000 permanent residents. It is a major tourist attraction with mountains, rivers, old-style country houses and temples.