Death toll from floods in central China jumps to 302, more than 50 missing

More than 300 people have died in recent flooding in central China, according to official data released Monday, August 2, 2021. The number is more than three times higher than previously reported.

Henan provincial government said 302 people have died and 50 remain missing after extreme rains hit central China from July 17 – 21.

297 people were killed in Henan's capital Zhengzhou and 47 remain missing. 10 others died in 3 other cities.

For those of you who don't remember this event, Zhengzhou received record-breaking hourly precipitation of 201.9 mm (7.9 inches) between 16:00 and 17:00 LT (08:00 – 09:00 UTC) on July 20.

From Sunday, July 18 to 00:00 LT on Tuesday, July 20, the accumulated average rainfall in the city reached 449 mm (17.6 inches). 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). 

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).

According to official data released on July 27, 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.

Henan's economy is essentially based on agriculture and the province is China's main wheat producer.

Featured image credit: Weibo