Viral videos of Zhengzhou floods in China show subway passengers in waist-deep water

The situation was dire in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province in China, due to severe flooding following heavy rains. A thread featuring videos from Zhengzhou has gone viral on social media.

Sinologist Manya Koetse posted a thread on Twitter featuring videos shared on Chinese social media about the floodings in Henan in order to elaborate on the “severity of the situation.” On Tuesday, Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province in China, received 20 centimeters of rain from 4 to 5 pm and the situation was dire. Subway passengers trapped in the water. pic.twitter.com/IyqmKN7WEr This video was shared on Weibo earlier tonight. pic.twitter.com/uPKVQZqWZz The 'Stand Strong, Henan' images are coming out now. pic.twitter.com/A8Xq2ucnx8 More footage from Tuesday 7.20 in Zhengzhou, where some people were trapped in an underground mall and people worked together to get them out. pic.twitter.com/M1pVcOLTb3 If you see these kinds of videos going around Weibo and elsewhere you realize just how many incidents occurred today apart from the bigger ones. This family of three managed to be pulled from the mud. #henan #zhengzhou pic.twitter.com/x9e9ODm91O A kind gesture in these terrible times. This youth orchestra pulled out their instruments and performed for all those other passengers who are stranded at the Zhengzhou East Station tonight All trains were suspended after 2am on the 21st. pic.twitter.com/50THGOhy6O It's not over yet. It is now 3.45 am local time, authorities have issued a warning at 3.30 that heavy rain is expected to continue for the next 3 hours in Zhengzhou city and surrounding counties. pic.twitter.com/JqWEcXFIqM The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University is apparently dealing with a power outage, there are cries for help by netizens on social media to help with resources to rescue patients. (These are not verified news reports, waiting for official news reports on this.) pic.twitter.com/uyAIvzAxb5 This video was shared by People's Daily, showing the strength of the water current in Zhengzhou. People formed a human chain to prevent being dragged away. #henan pic.twitter.com/bzBciP7WIB You know it's bad when the fish are swimming across the streets. pic.twitter.com/Fz9o3g0sGs More videos coming out from Zhengzhou East Station where so many passengers are currently stranded, and where people are making the best out of a bad situation. pic.twitter.com/xZCF34c2ZD Just before midnight, over 150 people (kids and teachers) were rescued from a flooded kindergarten in Zhengzhou. Glad to see some of the kids and firefighters smiling during the rescue operation pic.twitter.com/iX26hdMTDx 2/3: A woman rescued in flood waters in Zhengzhou, Henan (video from WeChat). pic.twitter.com/6fOblgl5OL 3/3: More extraordinary scenes from the floods in central China - commuters on the Zhengzhou subway. There are other videos circulating on WeChat that show people in even worse predicaments - appears to be very destructive flooding. pic.twitter.com/hCJYq3ANyU First Europe, now China (Zhengzhou, to be specific).The floods are horrifying. pic.twitter.com/d7Q1MgmpEe Due to severe flooding, people were trapped in subways in waist-deep water and children in schools, vehicles were washed away and several others were stranded at their workplaces overnight, Associated Press reports.