Experts point out that the intensity, extent and duration can make it one of the worst in the world. Photo by Reuters
Half of the Chinese territory suffers from droughtincluding parts of the frigid Tibetan Plateau, official figures indicate in the midst of an unprecedented heat wave in the country that is expected to continue on Thursday.
A chart from the National Climate Center showed Wednesday that large swathes of southern China, including parts of Tibet, were in good condition drought from “severe” to “extraordinary”.
In the most affected area, the Yangtze River Basin, from Sichuan Province in the southwest to Shanghai on the east coast, about 370 million people live and is home to large industrial centers, such as the Chongqing megalopolis.
The second largest economy in the world was recently hit by record temperatures, floods and droughts – extreme events that scientists believe will become more intense and frequent due to climate change.
With its largest freshwater lake drained due to drought, China digs ditches to irrigate crops
the longest
Southern China is experiencing its longest and most sustained heatwave since weather data began to be recorded over 60 years agothe Ministry of Agriculture indicated this week.
Experts point out that the intensity, extent and duration of this heat wave may make it one of the worst in the world.
The Chinese Meteorological Administration expects the high temperatures to continue on Thursday above 40ºC in Chongqing and in the provinces of Sichuan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang.
Sichuan hit a record high of 43.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the provincial weather service said.
On Wednesday, the Chinese State Council announced subsidies of 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion dollars) to help rice farmers hit by drought which, according to authorities, poses a “serious threat” to the fall harvest.
Production
China produces more than 95% of the rice, wheat and maize it consumes, but a drop in the crop could lead the Asian giant to turn to imports and add pressure to a global market already stressed by the war in Ukraine.
The authorities They claimed to “guarantee drinking water for the population and guarantee water for agricultural irrigation “.
On Wednesday, the state broadcaster CCTV showed footage of trucks delivering water to citizens and farmers in rural Sichuan and Chongqing.
Temperatures up to 45ºC have led several Chinese provinces to limit power to factories to guarantee service to individuals, whose demand has skyrocketed due to the use of air conditioning.
In addition, the low flows of the Yangtze River disrupt the production of hydroelectric dams.
Source: AFP
PB
Source: Clarin
