Heavy rain triggers alert in Henan

Provincial capital shuts down public transportation, underground spaces, shopping malls and tunnels

Heavy rainstorms in Central China's Henan province over the weekend triggered the second-highest emergency response for flooding.

On Saturday, Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, closed its schools, tourism spots, public transportation, tunnels, underground spaces, shopping malls and chemical plants until 8 am Tuesday. Residents should not go out unless it is necessary, the city's flood control and drought relief headquarters said in an open letter.

By 11 am Sunday, the city had evacuated about 240,000 residents from houses where flooding posed a danger and those from low-lying areas.