As
floods
hit areas of China, causing loss of life and massive financial
damage, other regions are being blighted by a heat wave and
drought.
Some of the highest temperatures for over half-a-century have been
recorded in some parts of the country.
As
the flood threat around China's two main rivers -- the Huaihe and
Yangtze -- shows no sign of letting up, nor do the drought
conditions and sweltering temperatures in many areas.
Tens of thousands of hectares of agricultural land have been
decimated by floods in the last few weeks. And now thousands are
being ruined by drought.
The persistent hot weather in southern China has also led to
electricity and water shortages in many provinces.
As
people try to keep cool, electricity consumption in both Hunan and
Jiangxi provinces has set new records.
Power consumption in Nanchang, capital city of Jiangxi
Province in east China, has soared posing a major challenge to
those struggling to maintain supplies.
In
just one hour more than 800 calls reporting power failures came in
on Tuesday.
Hunan
Province also experienced soaring demand for power, but more
worrying are looming about water shortages in the face of the
continuing drought.
Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters of Hunan's Chenzhou
said little rainfall had fallen since late June, affecting 30,667
hectares of farmland, 62,300 residents and 92,000 heads of
livestock.
Since the start of July, quite a number of provinces in eastern,
southern and central China have experienced hot and dry
weather.
Some regions can expect some relief as weather forecasters predict
rain in the next few days.
The temperature in Hunan Province in Central China has remained
above 35 C in recent days, while some areas including Yanling
County saw the mercury rise to 40 C in the last two days, said
Zhang Hai with the provincial meteorological observatory.
In
Jiangxi Province, East China, temperatures rose to an average of 37
to 39 C, while in southern and central areas of the province it
exceeded 40 C.
Wang Weiguo, an expert with the State Meteorology Observatory, said
that rainfall is expected in northeastern Jiangxi and Hunan and in
northern Fujian Province from today to Saturday.
But there is no respite ahead for other heat-hit provinces.
Fujian
Province yesterday entered its sixth straight sweltering day
with the average temperature over 38 C. The provincial capital of
Fuzhou broke a 53-year record on Tuesday when temperatures hit 41.1
C.
(China Daily July 17, 2003)