An aerial view shows cars with water damage, which have been compensated by the insurance companies to the car owners, at a parking lot of a third-party service company in Zhengzhou city in central China’s Henan province Tuesday, August 10, 2021. The local trade association estimated over 400,000 vehicles suffered water damage in the July 20 flood in Zhengzhou. (Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
The local trade association estimates that more than 400,000 vehicles suffered water damage in last month’s flood in Zhengzhou, China.
Photos show one of the lots where damaged cars have been towed. Row after row of cars, many of which will need to be discarded entirely, sit to wait out their fate.
Earlier this month, according to the Henan provincial government, the flood’s death toll reached 302, with 50 still missing. The majority of the victims were in Zhengzhou.
On July 20, the already waterlogged city was inundated by 8 inches of rain in just one hour. The rapid rainfall turned roads into rivers and washed away vehicles. Children were trapped in schools and workers were forced to stay overnight in their workplaces. Subway lines flooded, killing 14, according to the Associated Press.
Bus and taxi services only reopened for service on Sunday in Zhengzhou, Xinxiang, Anyang and Hebi, the four hardest-hit cities in the flooding event.
The Global Times reported on Monday that officials in Henan have vowed to restore basic production and living conditions in the flood-effected areas to pre-disaster levels within one year. They have also promised to improve flood measures and rivers’ and water conservancy facilities’ drainage capacity within two to three years.
MORE FROM WEATHER.COM: Photos from China’s Disastrous Flooding
A man rides a motorcycle on a flooded road after heavy rain in Xinxiang, in central Chinas Henan province on July 23, 2021. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images)
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
