HENAN, Central China — As of 4 a.m. on Thursday, more than 3 million people in central China’s Henan province had been affected by record rainfall and massive flooding that left 33 dead and eight missing.
In the morning, the rain had ceased in provincial capital Zhengzhou’s urban center, but road sections were still waterlogged due to the preceding downpour. Numerous streets were flooded with silt, branches, and other debris, and littered with deserted vehicles. Restoring order to the flow of traffic is still under way.
Zhengzhou’s power facilities were severely damaged, affecting 473 residential areas. The city’s electricity provider has aimed to restore power by tomorrow. Mobile and broadband communications are expected to be largely recovered by 12 a.m. on Friday. The city is overcoming setbacks to its logistics network to ensure the distribution of crucial supplies. A large number of trains remain suspended at the city’s railway stations.
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The Nongye Expressway remains filled with floodwater in Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
Left: A bus stop on Shakou Road remains waterlogged from the rain; right: Floodwater has receded from the surface of the ground at some areas near Jingguang North Road Tunnel in Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
A mother and son look at a muddy section of road at Jingguang North Road Tunnel in Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
Water is discharged by pumps at Jingguang North Road Tunnel in Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
A woman sits by a water pump on Shakou Road in Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
A man sells daily necessities after his grocery store was flooded on Shakou Road in Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
Two men move a piano out of a flooded store on Shakou Road, Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
People are restricted to enter the Jingguang North Road Tunnel in Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
Two men look at a flooded street in Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
Two umbrellas lay outside the Jingguang North Road Tunnel in Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone
Visuals edited by Qi Ya and Ding Yining; text edited by Daniel Wilkinson.
(Header image: A piano which was moved out of a flooded store at Shakou Road, Zhengzhou, Henan province, July 22, 2021. Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone)
