STORY: China counters heatwaves as northern cities swelter
DATELINE: June 18, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:43
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the electricity supply inspection in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHOU HONGTAO, Worker with Chifeng Power Supply Company, State Grid Inner Mongolia
3. various of a repair team in Cangzhou City, Hebei Province
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): JI HONGLI, Head of a water supply repair team in Cangzhou
5. various of outdoor workers eating watermelons in Beijing

STORYLINE:

China's national observatory on Sunday renewed a yellow alert for high temperatures as heatwaves scorched some parts of the country.

The government and relevant organizations are implementing various measures to mitigate the impact on both infrastructure projects and outdoor workers, as heatwaves sweep across north China.

In Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, electrical inspectors are carrying out examination to ensure power supply in high temperatures.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHOU HONGTAO, Worker with Chifeng Power Supply Company, State Grid Inner Mongolia
"In response to the current high electricity demand in the peak summer season, we conducted a special inspection in advance to guarantee the safety and stability of the electricity grid."

In Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, where high temperatures are also prevalent, repair workers are wrestling with leaking pipes caused by rising external temperatures and high water pressure.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): JI HONGLI, Head of a water supply repair team in Cangzhou
"Our repair team handles more than 20 tasks every day. We're on standby 24 hours a day. We'd immediately head to wherever repairing is needed upon users' phone calls to ensure the safety of water usage."

The continuous heatwaves have brought challenges to not only the smooth running of infrastructure, but also outdoor workers.

In Beijing, China State Construction Engineering Corporation has provided outdoor laborers with watermelons and beverages to relieve the heat, and prepared medicine in case of sunstroke.

Working hours have also been adjusted to avoid outdoor operations in the heat of the day.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)