BEIJING (Reuters) – Southwest China, which has suffered from sweltering heat this month, is now on a flood warning amid torrential rain.
Heavy downpours in Chongqing’s sprawling manufacturing hub caused severe power shortages in Sichuan province and nearby areas due to heavy use of air conditioners and a drop in reservoir water levels.
Rain began Sunday and is expected to continue through Tuesday. At 6pm (GMT 1000 GMT) on Sunday, the government activated emergency flood control responses in Sichuan and Chongqing.
Earlier this month, the government declared a national drought emergency.
The temperature in many parts of southern China has exceeded 40 Celsius ( Fahrenheit) over the past few weeks, Widely regarded as the hottest period since the government began compiling information in 1961.
Chongqing has not had rain for nearly three weeks and has been rationing
In addition to the drought, the extreme heat in the Yangtze River basin has also threatened crops in many cities and regions. Photos of searing, muddy lakes and dry rivers appeared on social media.
Chongqing and Sichuan are also battling forest fires.
Heavy rain is expected to hit the eastern and southwestern Sichuan Basin and western and northern Chongqing on Monday and Tuesday.
