Waterlogging paralyzes Chinese metropolis on Yangtze
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan, a metropolis on the Yangtze River on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua
An overnight storm following days of rain has stopped traffic, cut power and water supplies and trapped citizens in their homes in many parts of Wuhan, a metropolis on the Yangtze River.
The downpour caused severe waterlogging as rivers, lakes and reservoirs of the city have swollen, leading to closure of a tunnel across the Yangtze as well as some subway stations and underground passages, according to local traffic authorities.
From 8 p.m. of Tuesday to 8 a.m. of Wednesday, the precipitation of the city proper reached 180 millimeters and the district of Caidian received 206 millimeters of rain.
Floods have stopped traffic in 169 sections of roads and suspended services of 113 bus routes.
Twelve trains have been canceled and 38 delayed since water disrupted traffic around the city's train station.
A Xinhua reporter saw water gush out of manhole covers and a section of road in Wuchang District was inundated in two minutes, forcing cars to stay in the water. He saw no public bus or taxi and failed to hail a car from app on his way to the office in the morning.
On Hanjie Street, rescuers on boat were relocating citizens besieged by water . Workers are pumping away flood waters.
More than 16,000 people whose lives were threatened by fragile dikes were relocated from Caidian District to safety on Tuesday night.
Water supplies have been cut off in two residential communities, including one experiencing a power blackout.
Companies and public institutes in some districts were ordered to adjust work time.
Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, has about 10 million residents.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan, a metropolis on the Yangtze River on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan, a metropolis on the Yangtze River on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan, a metropolis on the Yangtze River on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan, a metropolis on the Yangtze River on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan, a metropolis on the Yangtze River on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan, a metropolis on the Yangtze River on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits Wuhan, a metropolis on the Yangtze River on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua