2021 Henan floods

Since 17 July 2021, China's Henan province has been affected by severe flooding,
caused by a period of prolonged heavy rainfall. Record-breaking[Note 1] maximum 2021 Henan floods
rainfall of 201.9 millimetres (7.95 in) in an hour was observed in Zhengzhou, the
provincial capital. 19 weather stations in the province renewed their daily rainfall
records.[9] As of 26 July 2021, at least 69 people were killed, at least 5 went missing,
815,000 people were evacuated, 1.1 million were relocated, and 9.3 million people
were affected.[1] The floods were made more likely by increases in extreme weather
caused by climate change in China.[10][11][12]

Songshan Road in Zhengzhou,

Contents damaged by the floods.
Date 17 July 2021–present
Meteorological synopsis
Location Henan, China
Impact
Zhengzhou Deaths at least 69[1]
Xinxiang Missing at least 5
Kaifeng Property Around 82 billion yuan
Rest of Henan Province damage (US$12.7 billion)[2]
Casualties
Aftermath
See also
Notes
References
External links

Meteorological synopsis

Hourly rainfall in Zhengzhou, from 0:00 on 20 July to 12:00 on 21 July 2021

The floods were considered to be one of multiple extreme weather events that occurred globally in 2021.[13][14] Several
factors were attributed to the so-called "unusual" devastating floods in Henan. The subtropical high in the western Pacific
and the continental high-pressure area in the Sea of Japan and inland northwest China contributed to the continuous
rainfall in the province. The region, in addition, is at the end of the subtropical high in mid-July, which causes frequent
downpours and thunderstorms.[15]
Mesoscale convections were reported to be frequently moving over Zhengzhou, which cause intense thunderstorms.[16]
According to the China Meteorological Administration, the main reasons for the torrential rains are Typhoon In-fa, which
was 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) away from Henan Province, and the continuous subtropical high pressure that continuously
guides a large amount of water vapor to the land, and is affected by the uplift of the Taihang Mountains and other
topographical areas. This caused heavy relief rain in Henan.[17]

Impact
From 8:00 on 19 July to 8:00 on 20 July, rainfall monitoring stations in Henan Province measured a large amount of
rainfall, including five Chinese national monitoring stations; Songshan (364.6 mm/14.35 in), Xinmi (254.9 mm/10.03 in),
Xinzheng (196 mm/7.72 in), Dengfeng (192.8 mm/7.59 in), Yanshi (183.3 mm/7.22 in). Zhengzhou encountered extremely
rare heavy rainfall from 16:00 to 17:00 on the 20th. The rainfall in one hour was as high as 201.9 mm (7.95 in), causing
serious waterlogging.[18] 13 reservoirs in Henan Province have reached the flood control limit.[19]

Zhengzhou
On 16 July, Zhengzhou began to experience heavy rain. On 20 July alone, the average
precipitation on that day had reached 253 mm (9.96 in). From 16:00 to 17:00 on 20 July,
the rainfall in one hour reached 201.9mm (7.95 in); and from 20:00 on 17 July to 20:00
on 20 July, the rainfall reached 617.1mm (24.30 in) in the course of three days,[20] close to
the annual average yearly precipitation.[21] Videos emerged showing subway passengers
were waist-deep in water inside their carriage and cars floated in streets.[22] The torrential
Video by CNS reporter who
rain was so strong that many cars on a road near the Danshi Subdistrict in Nanlong Lake
traveled on a CRH train, from
were washed up by the rain.[23] The Jingguang North Road Tunnel was flooded, with over Xingtai East station to Zhengzhou
200 cars left behind. [24] The Zhengzhou Meteorological Observatory issued a red warning East station, on 21 July
signal for rainstorms, and the Zhengzhou Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters
upgraded the emergency response of flood control level II to level I. The hourly
precipitation and single-day precipitation in Zhengzhou have broken the historical record
of 60 years since the station was established in 1951.[25] The Zhengzhou flooding has
raised concerns over whether the storm drain system offered sufficient drainage[26]

Xinxiang
Another CNS video report of the
The prefecture-level city of Xinxiang reportedly received the largest amount of floods on 20 July, depicting
precipitation, amounting over 260 mm (10 in) of rainfall in a 24-hour period.[27] Henan Province

Kaifeng
On the evening of 19 July, Kaifeng was affected by heavy rainfall. By the morning of the 20
July, the heavy rain escalated to torrential rain. Kaifeng issued a red rainstorm warning
accordingly, which was changed to an orange rainstorm warning on the afternoon of 20
July.[28][29]
Streets in Zhengzhou during the
flood on 20 July, depicted by a
Rest of Henan Province
China News Service (CNS) video
report
Heavy flooding was reported in Henan province, and the Ying River, the largest river in
the province overflowed, and caused flooding in the area. In the city of Dengfeng, which
also experienced flooding, an aluminum alloy factory owned by Dengfeng Power Group
suffered a massive explosion, but no human casualties were reported.[30][31] The military were sent to safeguard Yihetan
Dam.[32] In Hebi, the Wei River flooded several villages.[27]

Casualties
During the floods, at least 69 people were killed and 5 are missing.[1] At least twelve died in the flooded metro line in
Zhengzhou on 20 July.[33] Hundreds of cars were trapped in the flooded Jingguang North Tunnel where at least six bodies
have been recovered.[34]

In Gongyi, a county-level city under Zhengzhou's administration, at least four people were killed, as flood water forced
more than 20,000 people to abandon their homes.[35]

Aftermath
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called successively for all-out efforts in rescue and relief operations in flooded areas across
Henan and stressed that ensuring people's lives and safety is a top priority.[36] Local authorities have been tasked to
improve flood controls and emergency preparedness.[37] As of 21 July, several major Chinese companies had donated a
total of RMB 2 billion towards disaster relief funds.[38][39] Through Alipay's donation platform, 3.36 million people had
contributed a total of RMB 100 million in private donations.[40] Another 33 million was raised through a Weibo donation
channel.[41] According to the Henan Charity Federation, a total of RMB 2.664 billion in donations was raised as of 23
July.[42] A number of politicians in China and abroad expressed condolences for the loss of life.[43][43][44][45][46]

See also
List of floods
2008 South China floods
2010 China floods
2015 China floods
2016 China floods
2017 China floods
2020 China floods
2021 European floods
2021 China floods

Notes
1. 201.9 millimetres (7.95 in) is a new hourly rainfall record in Zhengzhou since the data was recorded.[3] Many media
outlets reported that it also set a new record in P. R. China,[4][5] it may not be true because Xiachen ( ), Henan
recorded 218.1 millimetres (8.59 in) in 1975[6][7] and Dashicao ( ), Shaanxi recorded 252 millimetres (9.9 in) on
20 June 1981.[8]

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External links
Media related to 2021 Henan floods at Wikimedia Commons

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