Residents of a Beijing village organised rescue efforts using a digger to save around 100 people trapped after Monday's torrential rain flooded large areas, China Media Group's Voice of China program reported.

On Monday, severe rain inundated much of Putaoyuan village in Taishitun town, Miyun district, trapping residents.

Villagers organised themselves as soon as possible, using a loader to assist firefighters with rescue boats to evacuate those stranded and transfer them safely to a temporary shelter.

"We are all local residents, with loaders and boats at hand," said one villager involved in the rescue, standing next to a loader. "Some of us are excellent swimmers and know the area well."

The villager explained: "We organised the rescue ourselves. One person made three boat trips in this area, saving 17 lives. Another used the loader bucket to ferry people out about 10 times, rescuing more than 80 lives."

"The firefighters were unfamiliar with the terrain, so we guided them," he added.