A central Chinese city has been devastated by floods amid record rain.
In Zhengzhou city, streets have turned into rivers, underground tunnels have become submerged, and floodwaters have crept to the second floor of buildings in some areas. Widespread power outages have interrupted hospital surgeries and left some patients without life support.
The official death toll as of July 20 was 25, a dozen of them from a subway that flooded, with seven missing, regime officials announced on July 21. But residents of the city of 12 million told The Epoch Times they believe the number to be far higher.
A resident surnamed Xie told The Epoch Times that she witnessed people being swept away by floodwaters on the afternoon of July 20.
“Two women were washed away by the flood when they tried to cross the street without help,” Xie said on July 21. “We were standing next to the street, but couldn’t do anything to help.”
Later, she was able to help another two women who were trapped in the waters, latching onto a traffic light pole to avoid being swept away.
Cars sit in floodwaters after heavy rains hit the city of Zhengzhou in central China’s Henan Province on July 21, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
