12 killed in floods in China, thousands rescued

At least 12 people have died and more than 100,000 have fled their homes in severe flooding triggered by record-breaking rains in central China. More than a dozen cities in China’s Henan province, including its provincial capital, Zhengzhou, are also affected. Footage circulating online showed people drowning in water on roads and railway stations.

President Xi Jinping said that the flood prevention situation was very serious and is at a critical level.

He said that there has already been a lot of damage to life and property due to the floods and directed all the departments to give priority to the safety of the people and their property.

Henan province, home to about 94 million people, has issued its highest level of weather warnings. Local officials have called the floods a once in 100 years event.

It started raining over the weekend and the storm intensified on Tuesday.
Widespread flooding was observed in Zhengzhou and other places in Henan province. There were online reports of people being swept away by the fast-rising floodwaters and cars and debris washed over submerged streets.
Several dams and reservoirs have exceeded warning levels and troops have been mobilized to divert rivers that have breached their banks. Flight and train operations have also been suspended in many parts of Henan.

In Zhengzhou also, about 700 passengers were stuck in the train for at least 40 hours. Food was allegedly provided to the passengers earlier, but now it is said to be in short supply.

A statement on Weibo by the Zhengzhou Municipal Party Committee said that the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou Hospital also temporarily lost power during the night, although it has now been restored.

It said 600 critically ill patients have been shifted to another location.
Officials said the dam in Luoyang city had a 20-metre crack after it was damaged by the storm. Troops have been deployed in the area and an army statement warned that it could collapse at any time.

In Zhengzhou, unverified video footage showed passengers reaching their shoulders with water in a flooded subway carriage.
Rescuers were seen using rope to pull people out safely, while others stood on train seats to try to keep them above the water.

It is not yet known how many people are trapped, but hundreds are reported to have been rescued so far.
Many of those affected turned to social media for help. A person named Xiaopei said in a post on the microblogging platform Weibo that they were stuck on a train.

He said, the water in the car has reached my chest. I can’t speak anymore. The fire department later confirmed that they had been rescued.

Another user said that the residents of Sishui city are stuck on the roofs. We don’t know how to swim.. The whole village is about to flow.

State media also broadcast footage of a flooded kindergarten where children were swam in plastic tubs by rescuers.
Chinese social media was flooded in the morning, with many on the microblogging platform Weibo praying for the safety of those affected.

Thousands of people left homeless due to floods in China, stations and roads submerged due to torrential rains

Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in China. Due to which people have moved from their homes to safer places and stations and roads have been submerged. More than 10,000 people have been evacuated to safer places after record rain in China’s Henan province. At least 12 people have died in Zhengzhou city since the floods struck.
More than a dozen cities have been affected, with major roads closed and flights cancelled.

Henan province is home to about 9.4 million people. The administration here has issued its highest level of weather alert after an unusually active rainy season.

It can be seen in the pictures on social media that entire roads have been submerged. Cars are being washed away in flood waters.

There are also fears that a dam in Henan province could collapse after being damaged by recent storms.

Officials said a 20-metre crack has developed in the dam in Luoyang city. Troops have been deployed in the area and an army statement warned that it could collapse at any time.