China sounds red alert for forest fires as heat wave persists

Beijing: Reeling under one of its harshest summers, China on Friday sounded a red alert for forest fires as hot weather persisted in most parts of the country.

The State Headquarters for Forest Fire Control issued a red alert, the most serious, for forest fires, official media reported. Regions with the red alert include Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei Provinces and Chongqing Municipality, where the highest temperatures are expected to continue to stay above 35 degrees Celsius for the next three days. Cities and prefectures in these regions are required to strengthen fire monitoring. Since July, many parts of China have been experiencing extreme heat. Fifty-five forest fires erupted in Hunan Province from July 1 to August 4, mainly triggered by naked flames, smoking and short-circuits, aggravated by the hot and dry weather. Shanghai, where temperatures crossed over 43 degrees Celsius experienced its hottest summer in history. PTI