BEIJING, 3rd July, 2023 (WAM) — Heavy flooding has displaced thousands of people around China as the capital had a brief respite from sweltering heat, Associated Press (AP) reported.
Beijing reported 9.8 straight days when the temperature exceeded 35 C (95 F), the National Climate Center said Monday.
While temperatures have since moderated — Monday's temperature at midday was 33 C (91 F) — they are expected to rise again this week to as high as 39.6 Celsius (103 Fahrenheit) in Beijing and other parts of the country, authorities said.
Meanwhile, more than 10,000 people were urgently moved to safety due to flooding in the central province of Hunan, the Xiang’xi Emergency Management Bureau said on Sunday.
Around 70 houses collapsed, 2,283 were damaged and farm fields were flooded. Losses so far have been estimated at least 575 million yuan ($79 million).
To the north, in Shaanxi province’s Zhenba county, authorities reported the worst flooding in 50 years had washed out roads and damaged homes.
No deaths have been reported from the floods thus far.