EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC HAZARDS
RISING TEMPERATURES
SEVERE DROUGHT
WIDESPREAD FLOODING
SCENARIOS 900, 555, 444, 111, 101, 100, 023, 03, 02
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Worst Drought On Record Hits Parts of China
Worst drought in more than 6 decades is plaguing North China’s Liaoning Province, and it could get even worse, said a report.
The has affected most of the province, devastating 2 million hectares of crops. Officials said more crop losses could occur due to below normal rainfall forecast for the remainder of August.
Severe drought has also affected other provinces in northern China including Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Henan and Hubei.
“Since July, the province has received the least precipitation since meteorological records began in 1951, the provincial meteorological bureau said in a statement,” said the report.
“Liaoning has raised its emergency response level to the third-highest in a bid to reduce the drought’s impact.”
Original Caption: Combination photos show a farmer checking his drought-hit corn field in Zhizhushan Village of Fuxin Mongolian Autonomous County on Aug. 12, 2014 [top] and a sharp contrast between a normal corn and a drought-affected corn in Qingshan Village of Fuxin Mongolian Autonomous County on Aug. 13, 2014 [bottom,] both in northeast China’s Liaoning Province. Liaoning Province is suffering the harshest drought in 63 years with its precipitation since July hit a record low since meteorological records began in 1951. The drought may be caused by the weather anomaly known as El Nino, which usually triggers drought in northern China while bringing more rains to southern China. Liaoning has raised its emergency response level to the third-highest in a bid to reduce the drought’s impact. Local meteorologists said they are prepared to fire artificial rain-making rockets to force rainfall if conditions are suitable. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Drought Inflicts Massive Financial Losses in Central China
Meanwhile, severe drought in central China’s Henan Province has inflicted direct economic loss of $1.2 billion, said local authorities, Xinhua reported.
The drought has affected about 21 million people, leaving more than 1.1 million short of drinking water throughout the province.
“Henan, a major grain producing region, has raised its emergency response to the third-highest level,” said the report.
Floods Affect 50 Million Chinese
Some 50.27 million people across the China have been affected by floods so far this year, with 311 people dead and 88 missing, said to China’s national flood prevention headquarters, Xinhua reported.
“As of Aug. 12, direct losses caused by floods amounted to 107.8 billion yuan (17.52 billion U.S. dollars), the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said.”
“But the headquarters noted the number impacted by floods was halved [probably due to the sever drought – Editor] and deaths were down by 60 percent compared with the average in the past 14 years.”
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