CNR:

A prolonged heat wave and droughts have been lingering in the Sichuan Basin and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River since July, and have impacted production and life in these areas. What is the overall drought situation, and how will it go? What measures have the National Flood Control and Drought Relief Command Headquarters and the MEM taken to deal with it? Thank you.

Zhou Xuewen:

Thank you for your question. Southern China has been hit by a rare and continued heat wave and drought since July, with the Yangtze River basin suffering severely. According to analysis, the main features of the disaster are as follows:

First, the number of days with high temperatures is unprecedentedly high. On average, 32.5 days of high temperatures have been reported in the Yangtze River basin since July, a record high since China established its complete meteorological records system in 1961. More than 35 days of high temperatures have been registered in most parts of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, eastern Sichuan, as well as the city of Chongqing. 

Second, precipitation is unprecedentedly low. The average precipitation has stood at 160.3 mm in the Yangtze River basin since July, a significant 50.4% drop from previous levels and the lowest since 1961. 

Third, the amount of water inflow is abnormally low. Since July, the flow of the mainstream and tributaries of the Yangtze River has been 20-80% less than in previous years, and the flow of its upper and middle reaches has hit a record low since 1949. The water levels of the mainstream of the Yangtze River, the Dongting Lake, and the Poyang Lake are five to eight meters lower than in previous years, the lowest on record. 

Fourth, the heat wave and drought are causing serious damage, affecting 37.85 million people since July, among whom 4.28 million require assistance with basic needs. And around 4,045,000 hectares of crops were badly hit. The immediate economic loss they have caused has reached 31.5 billion yuan, a substantial increase from the records in the past five years. 

The heat wave is about to last until August 31, as per the meteorological departments. While the rainfalls in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Chongqing, and Hubei have been increasing in recent days, we are highly alert to possible floods, fearing that the prolonged drought could be followed by torrential rains. 

It is predicted that precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will remain low in autumn. The drought could last from summer to autumn and will pose a severe challenge to our drought relief efforts. The Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the MEM have implemented the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on floods prevention, drought relief and disaster relief, and advanced our disaster mitigation work in accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. 

First, we strengthened coordination. We coordinated with departments of meteorology, water resources, and agriculture and rural affairs on a daily basis to jointly analyze the trend of the drought situation and provide organizational guidance for drought areas. They are advised to enhance accountability, make emergency plans, and get materials and measures in place in order to be well-prepared for a serious and prolonged drought.

Second, we launched emergency drought response promptly. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has launched level-IV emergency response in 10 provinces in a timely manner, and the National Disaster Reduction Committee and the MEM activated a level-IV response for drought. Multiple working groups were sent to drought-hit areas to assist in water supply and drought relief. 

Third, we took various measures to support local disaster relief. The Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the MEM deployed the national comprehensive fire and rescue services to deliver water to drought-hit areas. The water supply in some rural areas was dependent upon small reservoirs and rivers in the mountain. But the continued drought has dried all of these water sources. Drinking water safety must be guaranteed for those suffering water shortages. We also coordinated with the Ministry of Finance and allocated 700 million yuan of central funds for natural disaster relief in advance. We worked together with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration to allocate the central drought relief materials and equipment to fully support local governments' drought mitigation efforts. Thank you.