Shanghai Withstands Test of RainstormShanghai, the business and commercial center of China, has successfully withstood the unprecedented heavy rainstorms in the past few days and managed to maintain normal economic and social order.Since August 5, heavy rainstorms have struck this east China metropolis, bringing rainfall ranging from 126 mm to 480 mm to the eleven urban districts and amounts ranging from 101 mm to 195 mm in the rural areas. The figures are the highest ever recorded since records began in the city in 1873. The heavy rains submerged a large number of streets and communities, but two million industrial workers in the city have been on usual working schedule and maintained normal industrial operation. People of other sectors have also remained on duty and ensured the normal supply of water, electricity, coal, and gas to meet the demands of citizens' daily lives. In the rural areas, some 50,000 farmers worked hard to reduce losses on the 30,000 hectares of saturated vegetable cultivation land. Meanwhile, emergency measures have been taken by the municipal government to transport fresh vegetables from neighboring provinces like Zhejiang and Jiangsu to supply the local market. Also, efforts have been made to guarantee daily public transport for citizens. At Hongqiao and Pudong international airports, airplanes managed taking off and landing on schedule, and the normal operation of subways and buses also reduced the transportation difficulties In the meantime, some 100,000 people have been mobilized for the disaster-relief work, which is being directly led by Party chief Huang Ju and mayor Xu Kuangdi. |
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