According to official data released ahead of more searing temperatures on Thursday, serious drought exacerbated by a severe heatwave has spread across half of China and reached the normally frigid Tibetan Plateau.
Clariform recalls that the Asian giant has experienced over 70 days of heatwaves, flash floods and droughts, a phenomena described by scientists as becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming.
Southern China is currently experiencing the longest continuous high temperatures in 60 years.
According to experts the intensity, scope and duration of the heatwave could make it one of the worst recorded in global history.
Based on a chart from the China’s National Climate Centre on Wednesday, it was clear that swathes of southern China —including the Tibetan Plateau are currently experiencing “severe” to “extraordinary” drought conditions.
The Yangtze river basin, stretching from coastal Shanghai to Sichuan province in China’s southwest which is the worst-affected area is home to over 370 million people and a major manufacturing hub.
On Thursday, the China Meteorological Administration predicted continued high temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in Chongqing and the provinces of Sichuan and Zhejiang respectively.
