On Thursday, state media reported that sixteen people had died and others were missing in severe flooding in northwest China as the country faced severe weather this year that forced factory closures and power rationing.
The floods come in the summer when temperatures soar and heavy rains hit, while many Chinese cities experience record heatwaves and floods cause millions of dollars in damage. This week, floods hit mountainous Datong County in Qinghai province, affecting more than 6,200 people in six villages, according to state-run CCTV. Post-disaster footage shows muddy roads and trees uprooted by flooding as rescuers cleared rubble and dirt. “By noon today, 16 people had died,” state television reported, adding that rescue efforts were ongoing. At least 18 people were missing, 20 more were rescued. Authorities have set up a “forward headquarters” to organize emergency operations, according to official reports. “Rescue work continues in an organized manner,” the report said, adding that heavy and sudden rain on Wednesday exacerbated the situation.
severe weather
Scientists say extreme weather around the world is becoming more frequent due to climate change and is likely to intensify as temperatures rise.
Massive flooding in southern China in June displaced more than half a million people and caused nearly $250 million in damage. On Wednesday, Chinese authorities warned of heavy rains in the northern regions of the country, including the capital Beijing, as well as neighboring Tianjin and Hebei.
Earlier this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged officials in the northeastern province of Liaoning to “ensure the safety of people’s lives and control floods.” At the same time, millions of people in southeast China are facing power outages after a heatwave triggered a supply crisis that forced factories to shut down.
Sichuan is heavily dependent on dams for power generation, but the heat wave has dried up the reservoirs, exacerbating the energy crisis. On Thursday, Sichuan authorities urged employers not to ask employees to perform outdoor tasks while forecasts predict 40 degrees Celsius and above.
Water levels in the province’s main rivers have dropped by 20 to 50 percent, also due to reduced rainfall, which has affected hydroelectric power generation, the official Xinhua news agency said Wednesday, citing energy officials. And the China Meteorological Administration announced that the country is experiencing the longest periods of high temperatures since data began to be recorded in 1961, with 64 consecutive days of heat warnings issued across regions since June. The administration said more than a third of China’s weather stations recorded very high temperatures this summer. And 262 of those stations set or even surpassed previous records.
