A heat wave in China not only leads to bush fires, but also to historically low water levels. This has an impact on the power supply - and there are officially ordered measures to save electricity.
A drought and heat wave that has been going on for weeks has triggered power shortages in parts of China. As Chinese state media reported on Monday, most shopping centers in the southwest Chinese metropolis of Chongqing were only allowed to open between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. in order to reduce the power consumption of air conditioning. Last week, the authorities in the neighboring province of Sichuan asked companies to ration their electricity.
Because of the persistent drought, many rivers in China carry significantly less water. Also affected is the Yangtze, the third longest river in the world, which supplies several hydroelectric power plants. In some of the reservoirs in the region, the level has fallen to historic lows. Sichuan has been particularly hard hit because it gets 80 percent of its electricity from hydroelectric power plants.
On Monday there were several bush fires around Chongqing, for which the authorities also blamed the ongoing drought and heat wave. 1500 people had to be evacuated. Flights have also been cancelled. According to government information, large parts of the country are currently experiencing the hottest and driest summer since records began in 1961. In recent weeks, temperatures have repeatedly exceeded the 40 degree mark in many places.
As the state news agency Xinhua reported, 14 regions and provinces are currently affected by "moderate to severe" drought. Local governments were called on to ensure the water supply and, if necessary, to bring about artificial precipitation. Chemicals are shot into clouds to create rain.
