Beijing ( CNN ) -- The `` heaviest rain in six decades '' in the Chinese capital of Beijing has left at least 37 people dead , the state news agency Xinhua reported Sunday . The torrential downpour lasted 10 hours , with gusty winds in some areas and a tornado in one suburb , according to local media . During the storm , traffic was paralyzed for hours , with drivers and pedestrians stranded throughout the city . Many streets were flooded with water levels sometimes as deep as 13 feet ( 4 meters ) . Thousands of emergency responders were deployed and divers had to be brought in to search for anyone trapped . Officials said almost 2 million people were affected by the rainstorm and the economic losses have exceeded $ 1.5 billion . Drowning is the leading cause of death , taking 25 lives , Xinhua reported . But six people were killed by collapsing houses , five were electrocuted , and one was hit by lightning , the agency reported , citing the municipal government . The average rainfall Saturday was 6.7 inches , but one suburban district recorded 18 inches , Xinhua said . Authorities have identified 22 bodies so far , the agency reported . At the Beijing International Airport , more than 500 flights were canceled Saturday . At one point , some 80,000 passengers were stranded in the airport terminals . Even as operations slowly returned to normal , there were reports of passengers still stranded late Sunday . Local television broadcast heroic stories of search and rescue efforts and people helping each other , but online , people were critical . Many complained that authorities seemed ill-prepared despite heavy rain having been forecast days in advance . Critics said there was no emergency broadcast system deployed , no government shelters and no special hotlines . They also complained of a fragile , ill-prepared infrastructure , pointing out the sewer system was overwhelmed by the rains . Xinhua reported the flooding submerged some power supply facilities and led to blackouts in parts of the city .
The flooding stemmed from torrential rains , Chinese state media says . 22 bodies have been identified , it says . Most victims died by drowning , but also from housing collapses and electrocution .