China upgrades emergency response amid extreme weather

China has raised its emergency response level as extreme weather persists across the country. From June 28 to 29, widespread rainfall remained, though the areas experiencing heavy rain shrank. Still, regions in Huanghuai and the southwest witnessed intense downpours. Simultaneously, the Jiangnan region was engulfed by a large-scale heatwave. Zhejiang, Shanghai and Fujian endured long-lasting and intense heat, with local temperatures soaring above 37 degrees Celsius. A notable development is that Rongjiang County in Guizhou upgraded its flood-control response from Level II to Level I at 12:30 on June 28, prompted by continuous heavy rain and looming flood risks.​

To implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on flood – control and flood-fighting work, and in accordance with the National Natural Disaster Relief Emergency Plan, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has, on the basis of the emergency allocation of 100 million yuan (about $13.95 million) of central budget-invested funds on June 25, additionally allocated another 100 million yuan.

This fund is used to support the post-disaster emergency restoration of infrastructure and public service facilities in Guizhou Province, especially in disaster-stricken areas such as Rongjiang County and Congjiang County in Qiandongnan Prefecture, and Sandu County in Qiannan Prefecture, including transportation, water conservancy, medical and health care, and education, so as to promote the early resumption of normal production and living order.

China's emergency response system, consisting of four levels, designates Level I as the most critical. When activated, it triggers the mobilization of top-tier resources. The government deploys large-scale rescue teams, rapidly allocates relief supplies, and coordinates multiple departments to handle the crisis. Lower-level responses are activated based on the decreasing severity of disasters, each with its own set of targeted actions.​

The surge in extreme weather is closely tied to global climate change. The burning of fossil fuels over the past century has significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions, driving the global temperature up by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius. Since warmer air can retain more moisture, this leads to heavier rainfall during weather events. Moreover, atmospheric-oceanic phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña disrupt global weather patterns, which in turn impact China's rainfall and temperature distribution. China's monsoon climate and complex terrain also play a role; the monsoon brings distinct wet and dry seasons, which can be intensified by climate change, while mountains influence precipitation patterns, contributing to local-scale extreme weather.​

These extreme weather conditions have far-reaching consequences. In the agricultural sector, heatwaves cause crops to wilt and reduce yields, while floods inundate farmland and damage irrigation systems, threatening food security. Infrastructure also bears the brunt, as heat deforms roads and overloads power grids, and floods wash out bridges and disrupt pipelines and communication networks. Regarding human health, heatwaves pose risks of heat-related illnesses, particularly to vulnerable groups, and floods increase the likelihood of water-borne diseases spreading.​

Rescue operations in such extreme conditions face numerous technological challenges. Floods often damage communication towers, and although satellite-based systems offer a backup, they have limitations in mountainous areas, impeding rescue coordination. Restoring power to flood-damaged grids is a complex task, as adverse weather conditions hinder the movement of repair teams and transportation of equipment. Search and rescue efforts are also complicated; floods make boat navigation perilous, bad weather affects the stability of unmanned aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance, and heatwaves endanger the health of rescue workers, reducing their efficiency.​

(Cover via VCG)