The China National Meteorological Center continues to warn that temperatures in some areas could drop to historic lows in the latest cold wave in the country.
On December 16, China’s National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued a low temperature warning, forecasting a cold wave across most of the country lasting until December 19.
Xinhua News Agency quoting NMC officials as saying: “Some areas in northern China and areas along the Yellow River and Huaihe River could see temperatures near or break record lows during the same period in previous years.”
According to NMC, temperatures will drop by 6 – 10 degrees Celsius across most of China between 8:00 p.m. on December 15 and 8:00 a.m. on December 17. In the areas of Jilin, Liaoning, Zhejiang and Guangxi, temperatures could drop to 16 – 20 degrees Celsius. NMC has called on local authorities to take precautions against cold weather, advising people to stay warm and take measures to protect crops and livestock.
Previously, on December 15, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “comprehensive efforts” to urgently respond to the cold situation. Faced with “high risk of natural disasters” due to the impending cold spell, he asked authorities to pay special attention to prevention and relief work.
“The supply capacity of coal, electricity, oil and gas needs to be enhanced, and it is necessary to ensure a stable energy supply and people are always warmed up”the Chinese President emphasized.
The unusually cold weather is also expected to spread to other parts of China, with warnings saying temperatures will be at zero degrees Celsius or below in the coming days in the southern region of Guizhou province, just shy of the border. Vietnam is about 300km.
Low temperatures accompanied by snow and ice were also the cause of the railway accident on the evening of December 14 on the Changping line in Beijing. Local officials said 515 people had to be hospitalized for examination, of which 102 were injured. fracture. No deaths were recorded.
China’s cold winter comes after the country experienced a record hot summer and massive flooding in northern China. Most experts assess that extreme weather is related to global warming as well as El Nino.