Death toll rises to 71 in China's rain-ravaged Henan

The death toll from torrential rain in central China's Henan Province has risen to 71, as of Tuesday noon, said the information office of the provincial government at a press conference on Tuesday.

Disaster relief and reconstruction efforts are underway across the province hard hit by continuous heavy rainfall. As of Tuesday noon, telecommunications have been restored in Henan's provincial capital Zhengzhou, including its suburban areas, the provincial communications administration said.

More than 1,200 professional personnel have helped repair base stations in the megacity, and restore telecommunication services in northern Henan, the administration added.

The Henan provincial meteorological observatory issued yellow alerts at 2:20 pm Tuesday for lightning and forecast short-term heavy downpours, lightning and strong gales in some parts of Zhengzhou and other cities in the following six hours.