The Bund, Shanghai’s famous promenade, was plunged into darkness on Monday evening August 22 and will also be dark this Tuesday evening, again to save energy. The image alone reflects the consequences of the heat wave facing China, with electricity restrictions in many cities in the south of the country.
With our correspondent in Beijing, Stephane Lagarde and Louise May from the RFI office in Beijing
After the impressive images of the fires and the walls of flames that ate the mountains around Chongqing a few days ago, these are now photos of stations, offices, subways plunged into darkness or at least with lighting reductions that invade social networks.
Like other megalopolises in southern China, since Monday Chongqing has been in mode energy savingbusinesses had to adjust to the thermometer and temperatures that exceed the threshold of 40 degrees, felt 50 with the humidity, with opening time between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. and electricity restrictions, as explained by this customer whom RFI was able to reach this Tuesday morning: “ In fact, the stores inside the mall were only partially lit and in the hallways it was almost dark. The escalators are not working. I went up to the second floor. I was tired, I stopped shopping. And it continues. A friend just posted a giant ice cream image on the Weibo network. He told me that he wanted to work from home because the air conditioning is off in his office. »
► To read also: China issues first national drought alert, rations electricity
“Yellow alert” to temperatures
Beyond trade, factories in the world’s second largest economy are suffering the consequences of the heat wave. Also in the southwest, authorities in Sichuan province have issued a “yellow alert” for temperatures. Energy restrictions have been extended for five days. Companies like Volkswagen and Foxconn in Chengdu have halted production.
The south of the country has been marred by fires in recent days, with a dried-up Yangtze River basin the water level had not fallen so low in 60 years, state media said.
► To read also: Drought in China: the fall in the level of the Yangtze reveals ancient Buddhist statues