The megacities of Chengdu and Chongqing in southwest China remained on heat red alert Wednesday, the highest level in the country’s warning system, as large areas continued to endure a persistent heatwave.
Temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher in several areas of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, and Chongqing municipality. This is the seventh consecutive day of red alert in Chengdu and the eighth in Chongqing.
To mitigate the impact of the intense heat, Chengdu has set up more than 2,100 service stations for people working outdoors. The stations provide free bottled water, first-aid medicines and cooling kits containing items such as cooling arm sleeves and mosquito repellents for delivery drivers and sanitation workers.
Meanwhile, the city of Chongqing, which remains on high alert for heatwaves, has opened 140 cooling zones in subway stations. In addition, accommodation rooms equipped with air conditioners and other essential cooling equipment have been set up to accommodate staff working outdoors.
The red alert is the highest level in China’s three-tier high temperature warning system, followed by orange and yellow. The red alert is issued when temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius within 24 hours.
