China: Death toll triples to more than 300 from flooding in Henan province

Recent flooding in central China has killed over 300 people, three times the previously announced toll, authorities said Aug. 2. The Henan provincial government said 302 people died and 50 remain missing. The vast majority of the victims were in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital. Record rainfall inundated the city on July 20, turning streets into rushing rivers and flooding at least part of a subway line. Video posted online showed vehicles being washed away and desperate people trapped in subway cars as the waters rose. Fourteen people died in the subway flooding. The previous death toll, announced July 30, was 99. Authorities said 189 people were killed by floods and mudslides — 54 in house collapses and 39 in underground areas such as basements and garages and including those on Zhengzhou Metro’s Line 5. Wang Kai, the governor of Henan province, expressed deep condolences to the victims and sympathies to the families on behalf of the Henan Communist Party committee. (AP) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.