In response to climate change, the Chinese government has repeatedly urged for enhanced disaster prevention and preparedness measures.
BEIJING — China is currently grappling with two contrasting weather extremes, as heavy rain and flooding necessitate the evacuation of tens of thousands of individuals in the southern regions, while a heat wave in the north raises concerns about potential drought conditions for farmers.
Tragically, at least one person has lost their life due to the flooding. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the body of a student who fell into a swollen river in Guilin, a city in southern China, was recovered two days later on Saturday. In Guangxi province, heavy rainfall has led to flooding in several villages, resulting in inundated homes.
In eastern China’s Fujian province, landslides and floods have also been reported, prompting the evacuation of 36,000 people, as per state media. In Songxi county, a landslide trapped a truck, while videos shared online by the Quanzhou government showed vehicles submerged in muddy floodwaters in parts of the historic city.
The Chinese government has issued repeated warnings to enhance disaster prevention and preparedness measures in anticipation of more severe weather events exacerbated by climate change. Earlier this year, violent rainstorms and hail claimed seven lives in Jiangxi province in eastern China.
Meanwhile, northern China, including Beijing, has been experiencing high temperatures over the past week. The National Meteorological Center has issued heat warnings, forecasting temperatures reaching around 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) for Monday in Beijing and neighbouring areas, as well as in the Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia regions to the west. Similar hot weather conditions have also been reported in Taiwan, an island claimed by China, with temperatures reaching 36.6 degrees Celsius (98 degrees Fahrenheit) in one township in Taitung county on Sunday, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.
In northern China, the lack of rainfall has raised concerns about agricultural production for the year ahead. During an inspection tour of Hebei province, which borders Beijing, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong emphasized the need for drought prevention efforts. He stressed the scientific allocation of water resources and the promotion of water conservation practices in farming. Additionally, Liu called for supporting farmers in planting drought-resistant crops to ensure a stable foundation for the autumn grain harvest, as reported by the official Xinhua News Agency.
