Multiple levee breaches hit Henan after typhoon rains

Henan province has suffered multiple levee breaches since Wednesday as a result of rains brought by Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of this year.

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 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, was 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 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.

There was a second levee breach on Thursday at the Cangtou village section of the Qingyi River in Xuchang, Henan province. Yanling county, which administers the village, activated its emergency response and mobilized dedicated forces to carry out personnel evacuation and risk prevention.

The night before, a village levee in Jiaxian county of Pingdingshan suffered a 40-meter-wide breach. More than 2,100 residents were relocated to safety areas. No injuries or missing persons were reported following those breaches, local emergency authorities said.

Through a host of measures including concrete pouring, deployment of wire mesh barriers and excavation of diversion channels, the breach in the Jiaxian county was finally sealed on Friday night, according to a CCTV report.

On Friday, in response to the heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Dolphin, the National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Relief activated a Level IV national disaster relief emergency response.

Meanwhile, in light of the risks and disaster situation in Zhoukou, Xuchang, and other parts of Henan, authorities have allocated 30,000 pieces of disaster-relief supplies to the province, including folding beds, mattresses, blankets, summer quilts, summer clothing, and household emergency kits.

According to a Xinhua report on Friday, the National Development and Reform Commission has urgently allocated 30 million yuan ($4.45 million) from the central government budget to support Henan in post disaster emergency recovery following torrential rains and floods. The funds will be mainly used for the emergency restoration of damaged infrastructure such as roads and water conservancy facilities, as well as public service facilities including schools and hospitals in disaster hit areas, to help restore normal production and living order at an early date.