The drought in China as in other places in the world has exposed historical monuments. The lowering of the water level of the Yangtze River has revealed a submerged island in the southwestern city of Chongqing and three Buddhist statues believed to be 600 years old, state media Xinhua reported.
The three statues were found on the highest part of the island, called Foyeliang, apparently built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. One of the statues shows a monk sitting on a lotus pedestal.
Water in Yangtze river drops to critical levels
In eastern China’s Jiangxi province, it has been experiencing a severe drought since July 15. Nearly 655,000 people have mobilized to participate in the drought relief campaign in the province, which is suffering economic losses of 147 million euros.
China’s severe and long-lasting heat wave caused an unprecedented drought across the country, causing some rivers to dry up, including parts of the Yangtze River. In Sichuan province, public use of electricity was rationed and power supply to thousands of factories was cut off due to power shortages.
This river has fallen to its lowest level in 150 years, to the point that in recent days thousands of people have walked on what would normally be the river bed.
Drought and heat wave in China
China’s Ministry of Water Resources reported that the historic drought in the Yangtze River Basin is negatively affecting the drinking water safety of rural people and livestock, and the growth of crops.
Likewise, meteorological departments of the provinces of Hubei and Hunan, located in the center of the country, are using the so-called “cloud chasers” with the aim of causing rain with rockets that pour condenser substances such as silver iodide into the clouds. which accelerates precipitation.
China Central Television reported that 66 rivers in 34 counties of the Chongqing megalopolis have already dried up completely.
