VIDEO: Death toll jumps to 302 in recent China flooding
- 02 Aug 2021
Gulf Today Report
More than 300 people died in recent flooding in central China, authorities said Monday, three times the previously announced toll.
The Henan provincial government said 302 people died and 50 remain missing. The vast majority of the victims were in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, where 292 died and 47 are missing. Ten others died in three other cities, officials said at a news conference.
Record rainfall inundated Zhengzhou on July 20, turning streets into rushing rivers and flooding at least part of a subway line. Video posted online showed vehicles being washed away and desperate people trapped in subway cars as the waters rose. Fourteen people died in the subway flooding.
The previous death toll, announced Friday, was 99.
Climate change is taking on sinister proportions. As though the floods in Europe were not enough, Nature has unleashed its fury this time on China.
Authorities said 189 people were killed by floods and mudslides, 54 in house collapses and 39 in underground areas such as basements and garages and including those on subway Line 5. Six died in a roadway tunnel from which more than 200 vehicles were removed after it was drained, according to Chinese media reports.
The downpour caused landslides and flooded large areas of Henan province, including its capital Zhengzhou.
Twelve people died and five were hurt after the rains flooded underground metro stations. Hundreds were removed from other underground tunnels.
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A dozen cities in the country have been badly flooded.
A year’s rainfall buffeted the city, which has 10 million inhabitants, in just three days.
Horrifying images that went viral on social media platforms showed shocked passengers battling to keep their heads above the fast-rising waters inside a train coach. Rescuers had to prise open the roof of the bogey to pull the passengers to a safe area.Four were killed as houses collapsed in nearby Gongyi city.
A man carrying a woman wades through a flooded road following heavy rainfall in Zhengzhou on Tuesday. Reuters
President Xi Jinping described the situation as "extremely severe" with flood control measures entering a "critical stage", state media reported on Wednesday.
"Some reservoirs had their dams burst... causing serious injury, loss of life and property damage," Xi Jinping said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
"We have already entered the critical stage of flood control, leaders and cadres from all walks of life must... take the lead in commanding, quickly organise forces for flood protection and disaster rescue."
