Several cities in China are on red alert on Monday due to the heat wave sweeping the country, where tens of millions of people have been told to stay home.
Extreme, sometimes deadly, heat waves have affected different parts of the planet in recent months, such as Western Europe in July and India in March-April.
According to scientists, climate change has made heat waves more frequent, a phenomenon that should increase with the expected increase in temperatures in the coming years.
China is no exception: while Shanghai recently broke a 149-year heat record of 40.9°C, this weekend in the provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian (east) the mercury exceeded 41°C, breaking a record history in two cities of these provinces.
“Cease all activity”
The population of the red alert areas -mainly in the southeast and northwest of the country- is instructed to “cease all outdoor activity” and “pay special attention to fire prevention,” announced the national weather service.
Saturday marked the start of the hottest time of the year according to the traditional Chinese calendar, but this summer seems to exceed all expectations.
To cool off, hundreds of Chinese rushed to the beach in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Sunday.
This heat wave puts pressure on the Chinese electrical system, with residents and businesses using air conditioning more. The country’s largest power plants broke capacity records in mid-July, according to Sxcoal, an energy trade publication.
Local authorities in some provinces have decided to turn off street lights and charge companies more for electricity during peak hours.
Finally, the heat wave will also “negatively affect local cultures,” warned Fu Jiaolan, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center.
Source: BFM TV
