China Expects Rain over Large Areas, Drought Relieved

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, July 03, 2002

China Expects Rain over Large Areas, Drought Relieved

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Two-day Rain Cools Heat Wave in Beijing

Beijing may be welcoming back the sun after a fortnight of mist and rain but many areas have had more rain this summer than last, leading to floods in some areas, according to experts.

Latest predictions from the Central Meteorological Observatory say that the Yangtze River Valleys and southeast China will have more rain in the next few days.

The Huaihe River and Hanshui River valleys in central China can expect a large amount of rain over the next ten days and in some regions the rainfall will exceed 200 mm.

North China's Beijing and Tianjin municipalities, Hebei Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region will have sporadic rain, according to the forecast.

Experts warn that floods may occur in the Yangtze River and Huaihe River valleys as well as in southeast China, where rainfall has already exceeded normal levels.

Meteorologist Lu Juntian says that minor floods will occur across the country this year, differing from the large floods which have inundated some areas in past years.

So far this year over 20 Chinese provinces and localities have had persisting torrential rains and flooding.

The forecast also says that most areas in China, except the southern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the western part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, will not have lasting hot weather in the immediate future.

Drought in most areas of China now relieved

Recent rains have almost broken China's nationwide drought, enabling summer sowing and planting to be carried out, according to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Statistics released by the headquarters show that by June 30, China's drought-affected farmland had fallen from 22.533 million hectares in February to 1.087 million hectares.

However, 1.18 million people and 1.21 million head of livestock, mainly in Hebei, Heilongjiang, Fujian, Yunnan provinces as well as in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, are still short of drinking water.

Since early June, most areas in China have received high rainfall, relieving the severe drought in its northeast, north and northwest as well as in the valleys of the Yangtze, Yellow and Huaihe rivers.

Headquarters sources said that following two consecutive years of drought, most areas in China had a dry spring due to the warm winter.

The widespread drought absorbed moisture from the soil and lowered the water levels in China's major rivers and the underground water tables in some areas.

Statistics issued by the headquarters showed that 15.9 million rural people and 15.23 million head of livestock throughout the country were short of drinking water in mid February, while some cities in over 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities were short of water.

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