A car is inundated by rainwater in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, July 20, 2021.Photo:Xinhua

The city of Zhengzhou in Central China's Henan Province has recorded the heaviest rainfall in 60 years in what has been claimed to be a once in a lifetime event. Meteorologists mentioned that the typhoon near South China and the topography of the region could be the major reasons of the unusual torrential rainfall.

The maximum precipitation recorded in Zhengzhou in the last days reached 201.9 millimeters per hour, breaking the previous record of 198.5 millimeters in 1975, according to the National Meteorological Observatory. 

At least one died and two went missing from torrential rains in Henan Province, as of Tuesday.

Meteorologists said that the typhoon "Yanhua", which is approaching South China's Fujian Province, exerted "remote control" over Henan. Water vapor is pushed from the sea to Henan following the path of the typhoon as well as air currents. 

When the airflow hits the mountains in Henan, it converges and shoots upwards which causes rainfall to be concentrated in this region, they said.

Meteorologists predicted that only when the typhoon comes closer to China and changes its path over the water and touches down on land, the rain will stop in Henan.

Zhang Ning, Chief Weather Broadcaster of the Henan Weather Bureau, told media that the heavy rains will last until Wednesday night and strong precipitation will continue in northwestern and central Henan with about 100 to 250 millimeters per hour.

From July 22 to 26, Henan will not see large-scale rains, according to Zhang.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Bureau dispatched a work group to Henan and initiated  level III emergency response rescue operations. About 849 people have been rescued and 1,500 relocated as of Tuesday.