Home » Zhengzhou launches post-disaster cleanup, government strictly controls information-Wall Street Journal

Zhengzhou launches post-disaster cleanup, government strictly controls information-Wall Street Journal

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A few days after the worst flood disaster in people’s memory swept through Zhengzhou, clean-up work has been initiated, the government’s secrecy measures have become stricter, and the flow of information has been restricted.

Last Friday and Saturday, in Zhengzhou’s worst-hit western old town, residents and shop owners were everywhere on the sidewalks drying their soaked properties. At the same time, officers and soldiers were carrying out dredging on the main roads of the city. jobs. Multiple high-power water pumps emptied the water in the submerged underground passage, rescuers salvaged the flooded vehicle and found several victims.

Last Thursday, a convenience store was crowded with people charging electronic devices next to the Beach Temple Street Station of Metro Line 5, where many people were killed in flooding. Vendors sell fruits and discount sports shoes along the street, and nearby residents spend their time outdoors in the summer because of water and electricity cuts in their homes.

Zhengzhou City is located on the banks of the Yellow River and has a population of 11 million. Last Saturday, riot police stood guard at some key intersections and around hospitals in Zhengzhou. Police and security personnel set up tight cordon around the underground passages, tunnels and footbridges along the Beijing-Guangzhou Expressway, and passers-by are not allowed to take photos. Most of the worst floods occurred in these places.

In the worst-hit areas of Zhengzhou, foreign journalists, including reporters from The Wall Street Journal, were questioned by the police. The police told the foreign journalists that they could not report on the flood fighting situation without using official channels. Talk to the locals.

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Government officials blamed the flooding of the subway, the water system and the paralysis of the roads to the heavy rainfall in history, which they called the “once in a thousand years” heavy rain. Relevant departments reported that the number of flood victims in Henan Province rose to 71.

Chinese state media reports basically promote the heroic behavior of rescuers, while downplaying any potential improprieties in the initial flood relief. At the same time, articles that gave negative comments on local government behavior quickly disappeared from the Internet.

On Monday, rescuers searched a flooded subway in Zhengzhou. Prior to this, more than a dozen people were killed in the city’s subway system.


Image credit: Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

On Friday afternoon, near Zhengzhou’s main high-speed rail station (one of the busiest high-speed rail stations in China), a fleet of military trucks drove on the street, with patriotic slogans hanging on the truck cover-“The army loves the people, the people support the army.” , “The flood is ruthless, and people have compassion.”

Hundreds of soldiers wearing camouflage uniforms and holding shovels walked off the truck and began to clear the streets. Passers-by filmed this scene with their mobile phones.

In various parts of Zhengzhou, banners hung on the front and sides of cars indicate that a large number of volunteers from Jiangsu, Shandong, Beijing and other parts of the country are flocking.

The businessman showed his creativity. A billboard was posted on the side window of the driver’s cab of a Sekisui car abandoned on the street. “Soaked trucks are on sale! Call now for a low price!” There are also people who offer flood-disaster specials and sell shoes that have been soaked in water at extremely low prices.

People placed flowers at the entrance of the subway station to commemorate the flood victims.


Image source: china daily/Reuters

By last Saturday, most areas of Zhengzhou seemed to be adapting to the new reality. In some of the worst-hit communities in western Zhengzhou, only businesses equipped with backup generators opened their doors for business. Even McDonald’s stores closed due to power outages. Convenience store staff provide customers with some melted ice cream for free. Due to the unstable signal of mobile phone service in many streets, customers use cash to pay for shopping and affairs. This kind of payment method has become increasingly rare in China.

Not everyone is satisfied with this coping style. The 47-year-old taxi driver Gu Fuquan said that even in ordinary rainstorms, rainwater would flood into Zhengzhou’s tunnels. He also said that in recent years, Zhengzhou government departments have been building bridges, roads, subway lines and tunnels, which have caused chaos in the drainage system. He thinks this situation is terrible, and he also believes that climate change may be the cause of abnormal weather.

There was no water and electricity at Gu’s house, and he always went to a friend’s house to take a bath. He said, you can only wait. He said to wait calmly, because there is no other way.

For others, the gradual receding of the flood brought a little relief. You Lanyun runs a restaurant near Zhengzhou’s main railway station. On Tuesday, she watched the meat and vegetables in the store rot and deteriorate due to the power failure and could not be refrigerated. Then she wandered waist-deep water and walked home for three hours.

Last Saturday, in Zhengzhou, people aired books that would be soaked in water.


Image credit: noel celis/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Last Friday, in a flooded underground passage not far from the main railway station, You watched the pumping equipment work while chatting with other passers-by. There is still a lot of water in the channel.

You said with a gloomy expression, I think they will definitely find more victims below. She said that earlier that week, her husband’s cousin was hit on the head by a building outside the house in heavy rain and died.

Although after the floods in Zhengzhou, a large amount of funds and donations poured into local and national charities, You complained that people like me did not see a dime, and we have suffered such a big loss.

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