BEIJING - Traffic on the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao expressway resumed at noon Tuesday after divers removed 81 vehicles that were stranded on the expressway following Saturday's massive downpour in Beijing.

Traffic resumed on the expressway at 11:50 am Tuesday following cleanup efforts by emergency rescue teams. Ten divers and hundreds of rescuers spent two days pulling submerged cars out of deep water on the expressway, the rescuers said.

A 900-meter-long section of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao expressway was submerged in water four meters deep, the municipal government said.

Saturday's storm, the worst rainstorm to hit the city in 61 years, left 37 people dead and caused significant damage.