The record-breaking rainfall follows another flooding event that hit China's Hebei province hard in late July. Torrential rain contributed to a landslide that left at least four people dead. That round of unusually heavy rain prompted flood warnings in Beijing, China's capital, and at least 11 provinces.

The city went to bed last night amidst a Black Rainstorm, which was hoisted at 11.45pm on August 4 and ended at 2.10am on August 5, but by 5.50am this morning it had worsened into the highest-level rainstorm warning again, which is still in force at the time of publication and will likely remain in place until at least 3pm, according to the HKO.