Hard rainfall and high temperatures have led to a drought in eastern Jiangxi province, which has reduced the country’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Poyang, by 75 percent. Due to the extreme heat, a red alert has been declared in the province.
Drone footage filmed on Monday shows the drastic impact of the ongoing heat wave on the lake. At 10 a.m. local time on Thursday, the total area was 737 square kilometers – 2,203 square kilometers less than the same period last year, according to the provincial water resources department.
The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the water level at the Xingzi hydrological station, the symbol of the lake, fell to 10.12 meters last Thursday, less than half the record level of 22.63 meters.
However, the water level of Lake Poyang fluctuates up to 20 meters during the year between the dry season and the monsoon. This year, the official dry season started on August 6, the earliest date since the measurements began in 1951. And, according to Xinhua, 69 days earlier than the average start date between 2003 and 2021.
Red alert declared due to constant heat
More than 550 meteorological monitoring stations in Jiangxi are currently reporting temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, which is why a red alert has been issued in the province. And there is no improvement in sight for the time being: According to the weather forecast, high temperatures and little rain are expected in Jiangxi until September.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
