Twelve people were killed and five others injured amid flooding after torrential rain fell downtown Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, local authorities said. 

The country's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters lifted the emergency response to Level II, the second highest, starting at 3 a.m. on Wednesday following the downpours. 

About 100,000 people have been relocated, authorities said. 

The accumulated rainfall reached 449 mm on average in Zhengzhou from 6 p.m. Sunday to midnight Tuesday.

Forecasters say the heavy rain in Henan is expected to last until Wednesday night.

Street view of Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, July 20, 2021. /CFP

Several other cities in the province are also affected, with streets soaked in waters and city infrastructure damaged.

More than 100 trains stopped services at Zhengzhou East Railway Station, stranding large numbers of passengers. 

Beijing West Railway Station canceled services on 71 journeys on Wednesday due to heavy rainfall in the province. 

Zhengzhou's subway network was suspended on Tuesday afternoon.

The city's airport also stopped receiving incoming flights from Tuesday night until Wednesday noon. 

First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University said it experienced a power cut and is transferring some 600 critically ill patients out of the hospital.

According to media reports, some students and teachers have been stuck in school since Tuesday afternoon.

(Editor: Ye Ke)