Deadly floods hit central China as military warns of dam collapse

Xi orders relief reinforcement, prevention measures in Henan Province

Aerial view of the rain pouring in Zhengzhou city, central China's Henan province, 21 July 2021. © AP

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

July 21, 2021 19:09 JST

Updated on July 22, 2021 01:05 JST

SHANGHAI -- Deadly flooding in central China has prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping to order relief measures on Wednesday as the country's military warns of an imminent dam collapse following record rainfalls in recent days.

The People's Liberalization Army was deployed on Tuesday to carry out rescue and disaster prevention measures after torrential rain caused a 20-meter crack at the Yihetan dam in Yichuan, Henan Province. The PLA's central region command the same day detonated the damaged dam to divert floodwater.