China flooding: Military blasts dam to divert flood water amid rescue for 1.2 million displaced
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China’s military has blasted a dam to release floodwaters threatening one of its most heavily populated provinces, as the death toll in widespread flooding rose to at least 25.
The dam operation, in the city of Luoyang, was carried out just as the heaviest rain in a millennium overwhelmed Henan’s provincial capital, Zhengzhou, trapping residents in the underground system and stranding them at schools, apartments and offices.
Another seven people were reported missing, officials said.
A video showed underground passengers standing in chest-high muddy brown water as torrents raged in the tunnel outside.
Rain turned streets into rapidly flowing rivers, washed away cars and flooded homes.
A blackout shut down ventilators at a hospital, forcing staff to use hand-pumped airbags to help patients breathe, according to the city’s Communist Party committee.
The flooding happened just as China came under pressure from US climate envoy John Kerry, who called on the country’s leaders to intensify their action to curb the climate crisis.
Without sufficient emissions reductions by China, Mr Kerry said, the global goal of keeping temperatures under 1.5C was “essentially impossible”.
Extreme weather in China linked to climate change, scientists say
Just like with the recent heatwave in North America, the recent extreme rainfall in central China is linked to climate change, scientists say.
China’s fatal floods
Here is an overview of what we know about the flooding in central China so far:
Horrifying footage shows flooded subway with neck-high water in China
12 of those who died were killed when a subway tunnel flooded according to state media
China blasts dam to divert floods that killed at least 25
China’s military has blasted a dam to release floodwaters threatening one of its most heavily populated provinces, as the death toll in widespread flooding rose to at least 25.
The dam operation was carried out late Tuesday night in the city of Luoyang, just as severe flooding overwhelmed the Henan provincial capital of Zhengzhou, trapping residents in the subway system and stranding them at schools, apartments and offices. Associated Press
Rescue efforts begin as 1.2 million people displaced by floods
Thousands of firefighters and volunteers have been mobilized from across China to begin rescue operations.
The Ministry of Emergency Management said more than 17,000 firefighters as Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered authorities to prioritize people and property, according to The Washington Post.
Want Peng and his group of volunteers in Zhengzhou were overwhelmed as streets turned to rivers, the Post reported.
“Once I got to the scene, I couldn’t help anyone,” the logistics manager said. “The water was too deep.”
Rescue efforts begin as 1.2 million people displaced by floods
Thousands of firefighters and volunteers have been mobilized from across China to begin rescue operations.
The Ministry of Emergency Management said more than 17,000 firefighters as Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered authorities to prioritize people and property, according to The Washington Post.
Want Peng and his group of volunteers in Zhengzhou were overwhelmed as streets turned to rivers, the Post reported.
“Once I got to the scene, I couldn’t help anyone,” the logistics manager said. “The water was too deep.”
China floods: Drone footage captures submerged city after record rainfall
Drone footage has captured the aftermath of deadly flooding that killed 25 people in the province of Henan, China. The city of Zhengzhou has been left submerged by record rainfall and aerial footage shows abandoned cars and trucks floating in the water.
Watch the footage at Independent TV.
Watch: Drone footage captures submerged Chinese city after deadly flooding
Drone footage has captured the aftermath of deadly flooding that killed 25 people in the province of Henan, China.The city of Zhengzhou has been left submerged by record rainfall and aerial footage shows abandoned cars and trucks floating in the water.Nearly 100,000 people have been evacuated from the city, with more rain is forecast for the next few days.The People’s Liberation Army has sent more than 5,700 soldiers and personnel to help with search and rescue across Henan, where hundreds of lives have already been saved.
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