Power shortage If you visited Chengdu this summer, you might have seen a very "dark"city: no more neon lights (霓虹灯) in the streets; people sitting in bomb shelters (防空洞) to get cool air. The city went through a big heat wave. The highest temperature reached43. 4℃! Some hydro-power (水电) stations in Sichuan Province are short of water and can't produce enough electricity. ▲ You may have recently heard the word "thermoplegia (热射病)". Many deaths are reported to be caused by it this summer. Thermoplegia is the most serious level of sunstroke (中暑). If people stay in high temperatures for too long, the heat will damage their organs (器官) and make them feel sick, pass out or even die. Economic loss Global warming is affecting people's livelihoods. A farmer from Sichuan showed in a video that the grapes he grew have dried and become "raisins (葡萄干) because of high temperatures this summer. The loss could be around 300, 000 yuan. Some animal farms also face the danger of water shortage. |