China floods: online lynch mob falsely accuses volunteer mechanic helping during crisis in Zhengzhou of spreading coronavirus

Guangzhou man drove 1,400 kilometres to Zhengzhou to help repair cars damaged by the Henan floods

Online trolls were quick to invent theories he had helped spread the coronavirus despite the fact he had tested negative

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Ye Jungang, (left) was viciously trolled online after travelling to offer help during Henan province’s recent floods. Photo: Handout

Published: 6:03pm, 6 Aug 2021Updated: 9:56pm, 6 Aug 2021

A Guangzhou volunteer who drove 1,400km to Zhengzhou to help repair cars damaged by the Henan floods has become the latest victim of online bullying with internet users accusing him of taking the coronavirus back to his home city.

Zhengzhou had reported 112 coronavirus cases by Thursday afternoon, following the deadly thunderstorms which left 292 people dead, 47 missing and hundreds of vehicles submerged in floodwaters.

Ye Jungang, a 35-year-old car mechanic in Guangzhou, and a colleague drove to Zhengzhou on July 25 after seeing a video of mechanics in Zhengzhou appealing for help as they struggled to cope with the number of cars hit by the floods, news portal shobserver.com reported.

Ye Jungang helped fix more than 400 cars while in Zhengzhou. Photo: Handout

Ye, with 16 years experience in the industry, said going to the site to repair cars was the: “most practical way he could support Zhengzhou”.

Before he left Zhengzhou on July 30, Ye had helped fix 400 cars.