# China battles forest fires as fears linger over harvest
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-08-23
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: China Battles Fires as Heatwave Threatens Autumn Harvest
Meta Description: Discover how Chongqing and Sichuan are facing fires and temperatures rising in China, threatening the autumn harvest. Stay informed with the latest updates.
URL: https://financedigest.com/china-battles-forest-fires-as-fears-linger-over-harvesthtml

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SHANGHAI (Reuters) -The southwestern Chinese regions of Chonqging and Sichuan were battling fires on Tuesday as they awaited a long-anticipated drop in temperatures over the next week, but the country’s important autumn harvest remained under serious threat.

Officials warned this month that temperatures were rising faster in China than in the rest of the world and a record-breaking heatwave has raised concern about its ability to adapt to rapid climate change and conserve already scarce water resources.

Satellite images showed Poyang Lake, which usually takes in floodwaters from the Yangtze River over the summer, at a fraction of its normal size for the time of year, reducing drinking water supplies for nearby communities, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Water from the Three Gorges and Danjiangkou reservoirs had already been released to alleviate downstream shortages, the broadcaster said.

The [drought posed a “severe threat”](https://www.financedigest.com/farming-and-tourism-under-threat-as-winter-drought-dries-up-frances-lake-montbel.html "Farming and tourism under threat as winter drought dries up France’s Lake Montbel") to China’s autumn crops, the ministry of agriculture said in a notice, adding that authorities had been instructed to do everything they could to increase water supplies and protect the harvest.

[Farmers suffering from severe crop](https://www.financedigest.com/farmers-despair-as-volcano-ravages-la-palmas-banana-crop.html "Farmers despair as volcano ravages La Palma’s banana crop") damage would be urged to replant, and cloud-seeding rockets would be made available wherever possible, the ministry said.

State forecasters said the heatwave, which has lasted more than two months, was about to [hit a “turning](https://www.financedigest.com/barclays-warns-of-sub-parity-euro-5-ppt-gdp-hit-if-russia-turns-off-gas-taps.html "Barclays warns of sub-parity euro, 5 ppt GDP hit if Russia turns off gas taps") point”, with a cold front coming in from the west and a typhoon approaching in the southeast.

Still, severe electricity shortages continued throughout the region, with the Sichuan capital of Chengdu [turning the lights off on its subway trains to save](https://www.financedigest.com/ahold-turns-to-solar-panels-lowers-thermostats-to-save-energy.html "Ahold turns to solar panels, lowers thermostats to save energy") power.

High temperatures drove up air conditioner use to around a [third of the province’s total power](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-how-chinas-xi-accumulated-power-and-why-it-matters-in-a-third-term.html "Analysis-How China’s Xi accumulated power, and why it matters in a third term") load, and hydropower generation is down by half as a result of low water levels.

Despite the power shortfall, which has led to curbs on industrial usage, economists at ANZ said in a note it was unlikely China would see a repeat of last year’s nationwide energy shortage, which was caused by [tight coal supplies](https://www.financedigest.com/ceraweek-europe-gas-supplies-to-stay-tight-2-more-winters-equinor-ceo-says.html "CERAWEEK-Europe gas supplies to stay tight 2 more winters, Equinor CEO says").

The impact on gross domestic product was “negligible” for now, ANZ said.

Sichuan normally delivers huge volumes of hydroelectric [power to the east coast via the power grid, and the lower output means that coal-fired power plants](https://www.financedigest.com/edpr-brings-iberias-first-wind-solar-power-plant-on-stream.html "EDPR brings Iberia’s first wind-solar power plant on-stream") elsewhere have had to pick up the slack.

CCTV said that coal plants in the central province of Anhui were [operating at maximum capacity and had generated 12% more electricity](https://www.financedigest.com/grid-operator-urges-ukrainians-to-save-electricity-as-temperatures-drop.html "Grid operator urges Ukrainians to save electricity as temperatures drop") than normal in order to meet demand from eastern regions.

[COOLING FORECAST](https://www.financedigest.com/brake-cooling-duct-and-hose-market-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-forecast-2021-2031.html "Brake Cooling Duct and Hose Market – Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, & Forecast 2021 – 2031")

Though a heat “red alert” remains in place for a 12th day, temperatures are [expected to fall](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-manufacturers-expect-output-to-fall-3-2-in-2023.html "UK manufacturers expect output to fall 3.2% in 2023") in central regions by Wednesday, and in Sichuan and Chongqing from Aug. 29, the National Meteorological Center said on its Weibo channel.

Heavy rainfall could hit mountainous western Sichuan on Aug. 27-28, raising flooding and landslide risks, media said, citing the Sichuan Hydrological and [Water Resources Survey](https://www.financedigest.com/spacex-rocket-sends-first-global-water-survey-mission-into-orbit.html "SpaceX rocket sends first global water survey mission into orbit") Center. Authorities should take the [opportunity to store as much water](https://www.financedigest.com/a-missed-opportunity-research-reveals-that-while-small-finance-accounting-businesses-view-themselves-as-cost-savvy-most-arent-switching-water-suppliers-or-other-services.html "A missed opportunity: research reveals that while small finance & accounting businesses view themselves as cost-savvy, most aren’t switching water suppliers, or other services") as possible, it said.

Authorities also raised a fire “red alert”, warning that the situation was “extremely dangerous” in the forested areas of central and southern Chongqing and eastern Sichuan, the official [China News Service reported](https://www.financedigest.com/worst-flooding-since-1998-leaves-33bn-economic-toll-in-china-according-to-aon-catastrophe-report.html "Worst flooding since 1998 leaves bn economic toll in China, according to Aon catastrophe report").

Chongqing and Sichuan, where rainfall has been 80% less than normal, have had to deal with as many as 19 wildfires since Aug. 14, according to [financial news service](https://www.financedigest.com/devops-the-secret-tool-thats-transforming-financial-services.html "DevOps: The Secret Tool that’s Transforming Financial Services") Caixin.

No [deaths or injuries have been reported](https://www.financedigest.com/strong-nighttime-earthquake-jolts-sleeping-mexicans-at-least-one-death-reported.html "Strong nighttime earthquake jolts sleeping Mexicans, at least one death reported") but Chongqing was forced to move 1,500 people because of the fire risk, authorities there said.

The provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou are also on high alert for forest and grassland fires, the Ministry of Emergency [Management warned](https://www.financedigest.com/finance-industry-one-court-case-away-claims-management-company-onslaught-quadient-warns.html "Finance Industry Is “One Court Case Away” from Claims Management Company Onslaught, Quadient Warns").

The ministry said it had dispatched more than 2,800 state-level firefighters to Chongqing and Sichuan to help.

(Reporting by David Stanway and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Gerry Doyle)


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