Metro stations in Sichuan province’s capital city Chengdu have dimmed their lights to save electricity, leaving some travelers in partial darkness as China struggles with a record heat wave.
The rail system of southwestern city of Chengdu, home to about 21 million people, started operating on “power-saving” mode Wednesday, activating low-power lights and regulating temperatures in stations and train compartments(车厢), its operator said in a statement, without specifying how long the measures would last. Photos circulated on social media showed people waiting for trains on dimly lit platforms and transiting through darkened stations. The energy-saving measures are among many being rolled out amid a power shortage caused by China’s fiercest regional heat wave in six decades.
Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) have hit dozens of cities across parts of southwest, central and eastern China, and surging demand for air conditioning is putting pressure on the power grid(电网). The power crisis has been compounded by a drought, as low water levels in the Yangtze River, one of China’s most commercially important waterways, and connected water bodies, have reduced the amount of electricity produced at hydropower plants.
Top provincial officials warned Sichuan is facing the “most severe and extreme moment” in power supply, Sichuan Daily reported. A commentary published by the government called for government offices not to set their air conditioning units any lower than 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 Fahrenheit) and to minimize their elevator use, advising those on lower floors to take the stairs. It also urged sports and commercial venues(场地) to reduce lighting and the use of high-powered electric equipment, turn off fountains, and cut down on nighttime activities.
The heat wave is showing no immediate signs of fading, with China’s Meteorological Administration on Thursday issuing its highest heat warning, a red alert heat, to at least 237 cities and counties across the country. A red alert is activated when temperatures are forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Another 432 cities and counties were issued the second-highest orange alert warning, where high temperatures were forecast of around 37 degrees Celsius (98 degrees Fahrenheit).
Earlier this month, China’s National Climate Center said some 900 million people had been affected by heatwaves in the country since mid-June.
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