Severe rainstorms kill 16 in central China

At least 16 people have died after torrential rains caused landslides and flooded a city in central China, with shocking images showing passengers struggling against chest-high water inside a train carriage.

BEIJING (AFP)

As river embankments were breached in record downpours across Henan province, President Xi Jinping described the situation as extremely severe with flood control measures entering a critical stage, state media reported Wednesday.

Around 200,000 city residents were evacuated, local government officials said, as soldiers led rescue efforts in Zhengzhou -- a city of over 10 million people -- where days of rain have inundated the streets and subway.

The rainfall in the region was the heaviest since record-keeping began 60 years ago, with Zhengzhou seeing the equivalent of a year's average rainfall in just three days.

Rainstorms submerged Zhengzhou's metro, killing 12 people and injuring five, while city officials said hundreds were rescued from the subway.

Nerve-shredding images shared on social media showed shocked passengers contending with the fastrising waters inside a train carriage. Rescuers cut open the roof of the coach to pull people to safety, local media reported.