Death toll rises to 51 after flooding in China’s Zhengzhou

After severe flooding in the Chinese metropolis of Zhengzhou, the number of dead has risen to 51.

As Chinese state television reported on Friday, the damage was estimated at the equivalent of more than 9.4 billion dollars.

In addition, the Beijing Meteorological Office warned of continuing heavy rain in the central Chinese province of Henan, of which Zhengzhou is the capital.

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Typhoon In-Fa, which is currently approaching China’s east coast and is also affecting the weather deeper inland, is responsible for the torrential rainfall.

The storm is moving north-west at about 15 kilometres per hour and gaining strength. In-Fa, the sixth typhoon this year, is expected to make landfall on the coast of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces on Sunday.

The 9-million metropolis of Zhengzhou was devastated by floodwaters on Tuesday. Some of the multi-lane roads had turned into raging rivers, with cars floating in the torrents.

The water masses also flooded the underground rail system, where hundreds of people were temporarily trapped in trains and in tunnels.