China Flooding: Death Toll Rises to 56, Losses Mount to $10 Billion

The death toll from the rain-triggered unprecedented floods in central China has risen to 56 with the official estimate of losses totalling about $10 billion.
July 24, 2021 | 08:05
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Flooding, triggered by heavy downpours, has submerged the Chinese province since July 18, leaving tens of people dead and missing. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
The torrential rains, the heaviest in 1,000 years, have affected about three million people in Henan province. Photo: Xinhua/VNA

The torrential rains, the heaviest in 1,000 years, have affected about three million people in Henan province and a total of 376,000 local residents have been relocated to safe places, the provincial emergency management department said.

The death toll caused by downpours and floods has increased to 51 in the Henan provincial capital of Zhengzhou, the state-run China Daily quoted local authorities as saying.

At least 495,000 people were temporarily evacuated, and 529,000 were relocated by the government, the provincial government was cited by Global Times at a press conference on July 23.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Central Theater Command has dispatched 25,000 soldiers, armed police and militiamen to Henan. They are rushing against the clock to transfer people trapped by rising floodwaters.

China State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters coordinated a team of water resources, emergency management and health ministries on July 23 to oversee flood response in Xinxiang.

China Flooding: Death Toll Rises to 56, Losses Mount to $10 Billion
The death toll caused by downpours and floods has increased to 51 in the Henan provincial capital of Zhengzhou. Photo: Kyodo

Xinxiang residents and flood control forces tried to close breaches of the Weihe River banks by placing truckloads of stones, but the water current was so strong that it overflowed to neighboring villages early morning.

The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a second group of firefighters from eight provinces to help in rescue efforts.

On July 23 noon, floodwaters were diverted to Liuweipo where residents had been previously evacuated. The move would ease the pressure of some Xinxiang counties that were flooded when Weihe burst.

Zhengzhou, the first to face this round of downpours, is accelerating its pace in resuming normal life.

Many foreign companies, including Japan's major automaker Nissan Motor Co., have production facilities in Zhengzhou. Nissan said it resumed production at its factory in the city on Friday, halted in the wake of the torrential rainfall, according to Kyodo News.

China Flooding: Death Toll Rises to 56, Losses Mount to $10 Billion

In-fa is heading for the east coast of China. Photo: NASA

The Associated Press (AP) said a typhoon is forecast to bring heavy rains to Taiwan and coastal China over the weekend, days after the worst flooding on record in Henan.

Forecasters say Typhoon In-fa is moving toward China and expected to make landfall in Zhejiang province either July 25 afternoon or early July 26 morning.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 22 sent a message of sympathy to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang over human and asset losses caused by flooding in Henan province./.

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