China Faces Weather Extremes: Flooding In South, Drought In North

A woman uses a fan to block from the sun as she walks with her companion in an unseasonably hot day in Beijing, Sunday, June 16, 2024. China is being buffeted by two weather extremes, with heavy rain

China is currently grappling with two contrasting weather patterns, with heavy rain and flooding wreaking havoc in the southern regions while a scorching heat wave is causing concerns of a potential drought in the northern areas.

The southern city of Guilin witnessed a tragic incident as a student lost his life after falling into a swollen river, highlighting the dangers posed by the heavy rains. In Guangxi region, homes in several villages were flooded, necessitating the evacuation of residents to safer locations.

Meanwhile, parts of Fujian province in the east were hit by landslides and flooding, leading to the displacement of around 36,000 individuals. The situation turned dire in Songxi county where a landslide trapped a truck, and videos shared by the Quanzhou government depicted vehicles submerged in muddy floodwaters.

The Chinese government has been emphasizing the importance of enhancing disaster prevention and preparedness measures in light of the escalating weather events attributed to climate change. Earlier this year, seven individuals lost their lives in Jiangxi province due to violent rain and hailstorms.

Student tragically dies in Guilin river incident.

Southern China experiencing heavy rain, floods, and landslides.

36,000 displaced in Fujian due to landslides and flooding.

Chinese government emphasizes disaster prevention amid climate change.

Northern China, including Beijing, faces scorching heatwave.

National Meteorological Center issues heat warnings for various regions.

Taiwan also experiences high temperatures impacting agriculture.

Chinese Vice Premier stresses proactive drought prevention measures in Hebei province.

Importance of water resource allocation and drought-resistant crops highlighted.

Concerns raised about heat's impact on agricultural production.

On the other hand, northern China, including the capital Beijing, has been experiencing a prolonged period of high temperatures. The National Meteorological Center has issued a heat warning, forecasting temperatures around 38 degrees Celsius for Monday in various regions, including Beijing, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia.

Similar hot weather conditions have been reported in Taiwan, with temperatures soaring to 36.6 degrees Celsius in one township in Taitung county. This has raised concerns about the impact of the heat on agricultural production in the region.

Recognizing the potential threat of drought, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong emphasized the need for proactive drought prevention measures during his visit to Hebei province. He stressed the importance of scientific water resource allocation, enhanced water conservation practices for farming, and the promotion of drought-resistant crop cultivation to ensure a stable foundation for the upcoming autumn grain harvest.