ZHENGZHOU, CHINA — The situation here at Foxconn's iPhone assembly plant has reportedly grown tenuous over the day due to severe flooding in this central China city.
The rains, called the worst Henan province has seen in 100 years, and resultant flooding have cost a reported 25 lives and authorities have relocated more than 100,000 residents for their safety.
Foxconn initially issued a statement saying its plant was unaffected: “We can confirm that there has been no direct impact on our facility in that location to date and we are closely monitoring the situation and will provide any updates as appropriate.” The company then reportedly told tens of thousands of employees not to come to work at two of its three largest factories in Zhengzhou.
It rained in Henan province more in one hour this week than it would in a typical month. The South China Morning Post said water has breached the Foxconn’s Zhongmu plant. The English-language edition, using footage posted online, described water "spilling down the stairs from at least the third floor" and "[w]orkers wading knee-deep through water while departing the plant."
Foxconn employs more than 250,000 workers in Zhengzhou.