Great Wall collapses after heavy rain

SHIJIAZHUANG, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Repair work is underway for a section of the Great Wall in north China's Hebei province that collapsed after days of continuous rain, local officials said Thursday.

The collapse occurred Monday, when strong currents of water from the mountains crushed the Dajingmen section of the Great Wall in Zhangjiakou following days of continuous rain, an official with the city's Qiaoxi district said.

Experts have cleared the fallen section, which extends 36 meters, and reinforced other loose sections to prevent further collapses. Cracks were also spotted on other parts of the wall near the collapsed section.

Cultural relics protection experts are making proposals to repair the damaged areas.

The Dajingmen section of the Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and has endured years of erosion, which also contributed to the collapse, experts said.

A great amount of rainfall has battered China since the rainy season began, causing widespread flooding in the vast country. Last month, the heaviest downpours in over 60 years in Beijing paralyzed the capital city, killing 79.