China on red alert over soaring mercury, 'dire' drought crisis

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Authorities in China continue to issue red alerts and urge people to exercise extreme caution as the country swelters in unusually high temperatures this summer and faces a “dire” drought crisis.

The latest alert from the Central Meteorological Center (CMC) – its 10th in as many days – on Sunday warned that mercury levels in Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces could climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

According to state-run daily Global Times, at least 17 provinces and regions, including Gansu, Henan, Guizhou and Guangdong, have recorded temperatures as high as 35 to 39 degrees Celsius (95 to 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

Met department forecasts, however, show the heat wave is likely to wane after Aug. 26.

China also issued its first national drought alert last week.

A statement from the Water Resources Ministry said drought-like conditions are “expected to continue” in the Yangtze River valley over the coming days.

Most parts of Yangtze River basin have seen soaring temperatures and a drought of growing severity since July.

Rainfall in the region has dropped 4.5% compared to last year, with falling water levels hindering electricity generation and leading to power outages in several key manufacturing hotspots.

“Since the beginning of 2022 … water levels of the local river system in the Yangtze River valley has dropped significantly, a dire situation unseen in many years,” the ministry said.

Nearly 22,000 square kilometers (around 8,500 square miles) of arable land in nine regions has been affected by the drought, while water supply to some 2.5 million people has been disrupted, it added. ​​​​​​​