China on alert for crop and power grid damage as heat and flood risks rise
- Parts of the country are forecast to swelter in 40 degrees Celsius temperatures
- Heavy rain sends water in a dozen rivers above warning levels
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the China Meteorological Administration warned on Sunday that persistent hot weather could damage rice production, and authorities should ensure fields had adequate water to reduce temperatures and prevent premature ripening, particularly in the south.
Temperatures are forecast to stay above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) across much of southern China over the next 10 days, and rise to 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.
The CMA also issued a separate amber heat alert – the second-highest in the three-tier scale – on Sunday morning, warning people living in Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Inner Mongolia that temperatures were expected to breach 40 degrees Celsius.
It advised people in affected areas to avoid outdoor activities, and those who had to work in the heat to reduce their hours.
It also reminded authorities to be on alert for fires as the electricity demand strained the power grid.