The Chinese army mined a dam in the city of Luoyang, in the western province of Henan, in order to redirect the flow of water, which endangered one of the most populated provinces in China, where the death toll rose to 33 people, and that number is expected to continue.
The death toll in a flooded highway tunnel in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai has risen to 13, after rescuers found the bodies of 10 other workers who were trapped in it.
According to the Chinese media, the rescuers failed to get in touch with one remaining worker who remained in the tunnel, and the action continues.
The workers remained trapped when the water reached the Shijingshan Tunnel, which is under construction, trapping the workers more than a kilometer from the entrance.
Heavy rains and massive floods hit the Chinese province of Henan, flooded river banks and dams, and large numbers of citizens remained trapped in the subway, schools, offices and apartments.
More than 200,000 people were evacuated from the endangered area, the city administration announced.
More than 12 cities were hit, major roads were closed and flights were canceled.
“Due to heavy rainfall and floods, at least ten trains carrying about 10,000 passengers were stopped, and 26 sections of the highway were closed,” the Chinese Ministry of Transport announced.
Officials called the rainfall “the heaviest rain in the last 1,000 years.” The footage shows that the entire settlements are under water up to a meter deep.
President Xi Jinping ordered that the coordination of government departments be strengthened and that all necessary measures be taken to provide assistance to the endangered population in Henan.
Xi called on party leaders and officials at all levels to “put people’s lives and their property above all else” and to take responsibility in leading operations.
The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Situations sent a rescue team of 1,800 members, composed of professional rescuers from seven other provinces, to help the affected province of Henan.
The Central Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent more than 5,700 soldiers, armed police forces and militias, as well as 148 vessels and vehicles, to help in rescue operations in more than 30 areas affected by the floods.
Henan Province, home to 94 million people, has issued the highest level of meteorological warning after an unusually active rainy season.
North of Zhengzhou, the flood also damaged the Shaolin Buddhist temple, known for its martial arts school.
Meteorologists have predicted continued rain in the region for at least the next 24 hours.
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