Two metropolises in SW China issue heat alerts

Chongqing Municipality, and Chengdu City, capital of Sichuan Province, both in southwest China, have issued heat alerts with temperatures forecast to soar as high as 40 degrees Celsius in the region.

The Chengdu Meteorological Observatory issued a high-temperature orange alert, the second-highest such alert, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, forecasting temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius across multiple districts in the afternoon. The alert added that the heatwave is expected to persist for three days.

Chongqing Municipality escalated to red alert, the highest such alert, at 11:30 a.m., with temperatures in 34 districts and counties under its administration projected to surpass 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. Seven additional districts and counties anticipate temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius.

The authorities in both cities have implemented precautionary measures, including critical fire prevention protocols for forests, tourist sites, and power facilities. The public is urged to minimize outdoor activities to avoid heatstroke.

(Cover: A construction site in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, southwest China, July 14, 2025. /VCG)