Meanwhile, in many Asian countries, heat waves and power shortages are severely affecting people's lives.
Beihai City in Guangxi recorded 453 mm of rainfall on June 8, the heaviest daily rainfall recorded in the region in June, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Videos shared on social media showed cars with half their wheels submerged on flooded Beihai streets and water pouring down the stairs of some high-rise buildings as rescuers raced to save people.
The aftermath of a flood in China. (Photo: CCTV)
Trains and ferries from Beihai to nearby Weizhou Island will be completely suspended between June 10 and 12, as strong winds and heavy rains are expected to continue in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of South China, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The neighboring city of Yulin, in the western province of Guangdong, has seen 35 hours of continuous rain as of this morning. The provincial fire department said villages and towns in the area were inundated with floodwaters, and more than 100 people had been evacuated.
China's weather agency has warned that heavy rain will continue to hit southern China in the coming days while the northeast is expected to be hit by sudden thunderstorms.
China has been experiencing more extreme weather events recently due to climate change. Guangxi Province experienced a rare severe drought in May, with average rainfall at its lowest in 60 years. Henan Province, China’s rice bowl, has recently been hit by persistent heavy rains that have caused crop failures or blight, raising concerns about food security.
Meanwhile, many Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, Thailand, South Korea, etc. are facing major challenges due to the impact of extreme heat, leading to an uncertain power supply. Actively implementing rotating power cuts or limiting power supply for production are among the immediate solutions that many countries are applying to cope with the current power shortage.
Amid the hot weather that has increased demand for electricity, Bangladesh is facing a severe power shortage as the Payra Power Plant - the country's largest and most modern thermal power plant - has been temporarily shut down due to a lack of coal - the main fuel source for production. The shutdown is expected to lead to a 1,200 MW power shortage on the national grid.
Bangladesh Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Nasrul Hamid announced that the country is looking to restart the Payra power plant in the last week of June.
Bangladesh is experiencing its highest temperature in 50 years, causing electricity demand to rise significantly beyond forecasts. In the first five months of this year, Bangladesh was forced to cut off power for 114 days.
The severe heat and frequent power outages, especially at night, have significantly affected people's lives: "The scorching heat makes us feel suffocated. There is no shade anywhere. Working outdoors is much more difficult now."
“The weather is too hot. The power outage at home keeps me from sleeping. Sometimes I feel helpless because I can't do anything."
Mumbai, India's second largest city, also saw its average electricity consumption on the first day of June reach a historic high, forcing some districts to undergo rolling power cuts.
Meanwhile, Thailand's national power system is facing an alarming situation. Record-breaking temperatures have caused electricity loads in many localities of the golden pagoda country to increase to unprecedented levels. Thailand's Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said that the extreme heat has caused the country's electricity demand to reach nearly 35,000MW in just one day. Thai authorities are actively implementing a nationwide communication campaign on electricity saving, calling on people and businesses to increase the use of cooling measures that do not require electricity and reduce the time of using air conditioners.
In the context of expensive electricity bills and increased cooling needs in the summer, many Koreans are rushing to buy energy-saving devices that can both help dispel the heat and keep their electricity bills from rising too high.
Overall, temperatures across Asia this year are forecast to reach unprecedented highs. Extreme weather will increase the demand for electrical appliances, which is continuing to put great pressure on the electricity sector in many countries in the region.
Phuong Anh, Correspondent My Linh (VOV1)
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