"Harassment and Death Threats"... Foreign Journalists Covering China's Flood Disaster Face Hardships

Rescue workers were rowing boats to conduct search operations in the flooded subway tunnels of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, central China, following record-breaking heavy rains on the 26th.
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Foreign media journalists covering the heavy rain damage in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, are reportedly experiencing stress due to collective harassment by local residents. It is known that the residents did not hesitate to make death threats toward the journalists, causing a stir.

According to Hong Kong Ming Pao on the 29th, the Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC) issued a statement the day before saying, "Foreign media journalists covering the Zhengzhou disaster are being harassed," and urged Chinese authorities to take responsibility for the safety of journalists.

In particular, the FCCC reported that journalists from the British BBC and the American LA Times have even received death threats from some residents. Additionally, journalists from Germany's Deutsche Welle and the Los Angeles Times were surrounded by crowds on the streets of Zhengzhou on the 24th and nearly had their video equipment taken away, while an AFP journalist covering the tunnel disaster was surrounded by citizens and ultimately forced to delete the footage.

However, those who suffered difficulties while covering the Zhengzhou heavy rain are not limited to foreign journalists.

Reporters from China's Southern Metropolis Daily and Caixin Media, who were filming a memorial space for the Zhengzhou subway passengers who died in the record-breaking heavy rain, were also reportedly detained by local police. These journalists were investigated, forced to delete their photos, and then released.

Meanwhile, on the 20th, a tragedy occurred when floodwater rushed into Zhengzhou Subway Line 5 due to record-breaking heavy rain, resulting in 14 deaths. According to Zhengzhou subway authorities, about 500 passengers were on the train involved in the accident.