Extreme rainfall in Henan claimed 71 lives, affected 1.3 million people and damaged 972 000 ha (2.4 million acres) of crops, China
Extremely heavy rains affecting China's Henan province over the past 10 days caused massive damage and claimed the lives of 71 people, as of Tuesday, July 27, 2021. The storm dropped a year's worth of rain over the province's capital Zhengzhou in just 3 days and record-breaking 201.9 mm (7.9 inches) in just 1 hour on July 20.
12.9 million people in 150 counties and 1 558 towns were affected, with the hardest-hit areas Zhengzhou, Xinyang, Xinxiang, Zhumadian, Zhoukou, Anyang, Shangqiu, Kaifeng, Puyang, and Hebi. Of those, 1.31 million have been evacuated.
24 474 houses have been destroyed or severely damaged.
In addition, 972 000 hectares (2.4 million acres) of crops in the state have been damaged or destroyed.
Massive flooding hit Zhengzhou on July 20, after record-high hourly precipitation of 201.9 mm (7.9 inches) between 16:00 and 17:00 LT (08:00 – 09:00 UTC).
The city received average precipitation of 457.5 mm (18 inches) within 24 hours to 17:00 LT on July 20, making it the highest daily rainfall since the weather records in the city began.
From Saturday, July 17 to Tuesday, July 20, the capital city recorded 617.1 mm (24.2 inches) of rain, nearly its annual average of 640.8 mm (25.5 inches). This is a level seen only 'once in a thousand years,' according to local meteorologists.
Zhengzhou's average monthly rainfall for July is 193 mm (7.6 inches). July is also its wettest month, followed by August with 147 mm (5.8 inches) and September with 87 mm (3.4 inches).
How terrible is the rainfall in #China? In the past few days, #Germany encountered the largest rainstorm recorded in 75 years. Cologne has 154 mm of rainfall in 24 hours (note: it is 24 hours!), while the rainfall in Zhengzhou today is 200 mm in 1 hour! Disaster-level #floods! pic.twitter.com/KSxcxy2vT7
— Rita Bai (@RitaBai) July 20, 2021
Featured image credit: CGTN
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