Jialu River levee breaches in Henan, flooding hospital and driving school

A levee on the east bank of the Jialu River in Zhoukou, Henan province, breached due to persistent heavy rainfall and upstream flood‑release operations, according to a CCTV report on Friday. The breach occurred at 11:00 pm on Thursday, stretching approximately 30 meters wide.

The flood submerged the premises of Zhoukou No 5 People's Hospital and a driving school, with floodwater reaching a maximum depth of 1.5 meters.

Following the breach, the Zhoukou fire and rescue detachment deployed 290 firefighters from seven surrounding brigades to the site. Rescue equipment including loaders, rubber boats, and assault boats were mobilized to conduct zone‑by‑zone search and rescue operations and evacuate stranded people.

As of 10:30 am on Friday, a total of 357 trapped patients and medical staff members from the hospital, as well as 75 people from the driving school, had been safely evacuated. No casualties have been reported so far.

Rescue efforts are still underway. Authorities are studying and formulating flood diversion and drainage plans using existing water channels. In accordance with expert assessment plans, construction operations are being carried out simultaneously at both ends of the levee breach. Containers have been deployed to stabilize the levee foundation, and stones are being piled up in the middle section to block and close the breach.