Death toll in recent China flooding jumps to more than 300
Rescuers search for stranded people while wading through waterlogged area in Weihui City, China on July 28. Photo: Li An/Xinhua via Getty Images
The death toll from last month's severe flooding in central China climbed to 302 on Monday, with 50 people still missing, AP reported.
Driving the news: China experienced record rainfall on July 20, which resulted in flooding throughout Zhengzhou and surrounding cities. The death toll as of last Friday was 99.
The big picture: Many victims died in mudslides, house collapses and underground areas like basements and garages, per AP. A subway line was partially flooded during the rainfall, leaving people trapped inside the subway cars as the waters rose. Fourteen people died in the incident.
- Nearly 1.5 million people have been evacuated because of the rains and floods, according to local authorities, AP reported.
Our thought bubble, via Axios' Andrew Freedman: Studies show that as the planet warms due to human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels for energy, heavy precipitation events are becoming more likely and more severe.
- This has played out worldwide in recent years and showcased the inadequacy of current infrastructure to withstand a more volatile climate.