The death toll from China’s record-breaking floods in its central province of Henan has reached 33, with eight people still missing, as per news reports. Moreover, almost 400,000 people are being shifted to safety zones, and 256,000 have already been relocated following more than 762mm (30 inches) rain in 72 hours, which is said to be China’s worst rains in 1,000 years.
News reports suggested that the rainwater created deadly torrents of floodwaters that left people trapped in subways and buildings, and saw cars floating down roadways. Others took cover at makeshift shelters in museums, libraries, and cinemas. In addition, dams and reservoirs were damaged as water levels in some rivers exceeded alarm levels. The flooding also prompted officials to suspend railways and flights.
The worst affected is the city of Zhengzhou in Henan province, which has a population of 12 million people and is located about 650 kilometres south of Beijing. The Straits Times reported that the city experienced 617.1mm of rain between Saturday and Tuesday, almost the equivalent of the city’s annual average of 640.8mm. Rescue teams used rubber rafts to ferry residents to safety. Others waded through the waters carrying belongings above their heads or waited atop partially submerged cars to be rescued.
Al Jazeera mentioned that Henan’s weather bureau, on Thursday, raised the storm alert for four cities north of the province—Xinxiang, Anyang, Hebi and Jiaozuo—to red, which is the highest of the four-step colour-coded weather warning system. The agency stated that more cities are flooded, and crops have been destroyed as the severe weather spreads northwards. Meanwhile, China’s Xinhua news agency reported that the country faces direct economic losses of 1.22 billion yuan ($188 million).
In response to the floods, President Xi Jinping stressed that “authorities at all levels must always put people’s safety and property first, and take the lead in fighting the floods.” He ordered them to “promptly organise flood prevention and disaster relief forces, properly accommodate those affected, strictly prevent secondary disasters, and minimise casualties and property losses.” The President also called on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed Police Force to “actively assist local authorities in emergency rescue and relief work” and urged the State Flood Control, Drought Relief Headquarters, and the emergency management, water resources and transport ministries to “enhance coordination, locate hidden dangers, and shore up the protection of major infrastructure.”
Furthermore, the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee allocated a specialised fund of 20 million yuan ($3.1 million) to the Henan province for flood control and disaster relief. The specialised fund will be dedicated to supporting Party members, officials, and people fighting on the frontline of flood control and disaster relief, and people facing difficulties due to the floods.