At least 12 people were confirmed dead in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital after record-breaking storms flooded a train. More than 7.8 inches of rain fell in one hour on July 20, according to China's meteorological observatory, reported CNN. This area saw the equivalent of a year's average rainfall in three days.
On July 20, some of Zhengzhou’s flood protection measures were overwhelmed and water began flowing down into the railway tunnels, reported BBC News.
After days of rain, the flooding ultimately led to 200,000 evacuations, impacting more than a dozen cities, reported BBC News. Connections between rivers and lakes have been cut and disrupted floodplains as well.
According to officials, more than 500 people were rescued from the tunnels in Henan province, reported BBC News.
In total, 25 people died in Henan province. According to President Xi Jinping, there had been "significant loss of life and damage to property," reported BBC News.
In addition, several dams and reservoirs breached warning levels, so flights and trains in many parts of Henan were suspended. Soldiers were also mobilized to divert rivers which had burst their banks.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou Hospital briefly lost power July 20 at night, according to a statement on Weibo by the Zhengzhou Municipal Party Committee, reported BBC News. As a result, 600 critically ill patients had been transferred to another location.
According to CGTN, more than 6,000 firefighters and nearly 2,000 members of the police and Chinese military were deployed across the areas impacted by the severe flooding.
A 65 ft. breach emerged in the dam in Luoyang city after the storms, and according to officials, a statement from the army warned it could collapse at any given moment, reported BBC News.
According to scientists, the widespread dam construction has exacerbated climate change problems in China's flood zone, according to BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonell, reported BBC News.
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