Dozens of cities in China are suffering from scorching heat as extreme temperatures melt roofs and warp roads, while residents seek relief in underground basements.
As of 11 AM local time on December 7, 68 cities in China, including Shanghai and Nanjing, had issued red alerts, the highest level in the three-tier heat warning system, forecasting temperatures to exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the next 24 hours.
Juyuan, a popular tourist destination in Shanghai, China, has installed cool mist machines to provide relief for visitors. (Photo: Caixin)
Shanghai, still grappling with sporadic outbreaks of Covid-19, has advised its 25 million residents to prepare for adverse weather this week. Since records began in 1873, Shanghai has only experienced 15 days with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
A widely shared photo on social media shows a Covid-19 testing staff member in a full protective suit holding a one-meter-high block of ice by the roadside. At a large wildlife park in Shanghai, staff members are using up to 8 tons of ice daily just to keep the animals housed there cool.
“This year, the heat has arrived slightly earlier. Even though it’s only July, I feel the heat has already peaked. Basically, you need to turn on the air conditioning when you get home and apply sunscreen when going outside,” Zhu Daren, a Shanghai resident, expressed while her 5-year-old son played in a fountain.
According to Reuters, China is facing a contrasting summer this year, with alternating heat waves and heavy rains wreaking havoc across the country. Citing climate change as the cause, authorities have warned of potential weather disasters since mid-July, which is typically the hottest and most humid time of the year.
China’s national television reported that in a town in southern Jiangxi province, a section of road has bulged up at least 15 cm due to the heat. Nanjing, one of the three notorious “fire spots” on the mainland for its harsh summers, has opened underground air raid shelters for residents since July 10 to escape the heat. These wartime bunkers are equipped with Wi-Fi, newspapers, water filters, and even microwaves to serve guests seeking shelter from the hot weather.
In Chongqing, the second “fire spot,” the roof of one of the city’s museums has literally melted. Traditional tiled roofs have buckled as the heat causes the asphalt layer beneath to melt. In addition to raising the alert to red on July 11, the city has also deployed water trucks to cool the roads.
This week, high temperatures, humidity, and ultraviolet radiation are also forecast to hit Wuhan, the third “fire spot” in central China.
