Flood claims 73 lives in Henan: Official

The flood and other downpour-induced disasters have claimed 73 lives in Central China's Henan province since July 16, affecting 13.66 million residents across the province's 16 cities and 150 counties, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The flood has also damaged 550,000 homes and affected 1.02 million hectares of crops, and 179,800 hectares were totally wiped out, said Zhou Xuewen, secretary-general of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Zhou, also vice-minister of both emergency management and water resources, said Zhengzhou, Hebi, Xinxiang, Anyang and Pingdingshan were among the province's hardest-hit cities, where multiple rivers have exceeded flood alert levels.

From July 17 to 22, the precipitation in 39 cities in Henan surpassed half of the local annual rainfall on a normal year, and 10 cities and counties have seen rainwater in five days equivalent to a year's whole amount, he said at a news conference held in Beijing.

The rainfall in 19 cities and counties, including Zhengzhou, Hebi, Anyang and Xinxiang, has exceeded record levels. The maximum 24-hour rainfall in Zhengzhou reached 696.9 millimeters, compared with the city's average annual rainfall of 640 mm, Zhou said. "That means a year's rain fell in the city just in one day." Twelve rivers in the province have exceeded alert water levels, he added.

He said the downpours have caused widespread disruptions, flooding the subway system in Zhengzhou and leading to widespread electricity outages and water supplies to be cut off. Phone signals were also affected. A total of 186 trains were delayed or cancelled and several roads and highways were blocked.