THE megacities of Chengdu and Chongqing in Southwest China remained under red heat alerts on Thursday, the highest level in the country’s color-coded alert system, as large areas continued to endure a persistent heatwave. Temperatures were forecasted to reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher in several regions in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, and Chongqing Municipality. This marks the eighth consecutive day of red alerts in Chengdu and the ninth in Chongqing. In Chongqing, education authorities in multiple districts and counties announced Wednesday that the start of the fall semester for middle schools, primary schools and kindergartens will be delayed due to the recent scorching heat. Known as the “furnace city” for its scorching summers, Chongqing has been under a red alert for high temperatures since Aug. 21. Yuzhong, Shapingba, Jiangbei and several other districts and counties have postponed the start of the fall semester to Sept. 9 to effectively protect the health of teachers and students. Meanwhile, Chongqing has opened 140 cooling zones in metro stations. Additionally, shelter rooms equipped with air conditioning and other essential cooling supplies have been set up to accommodate outdoor personnel. According to the Chongqing Meteorological Service, the metropolis is expected to experience two waves of rainfall in early September, which should gradually ease the heatwave. To help mitigate the impact of the intense heat, Chengdu has established over 2,100 service stations for outdoor workers. These stations offer free bottled water, first-aid medicines, and cooling kits containing items such as cooling arm sleeves and mosquito repellent for delivery drivers and sanitation workers. The red alert is the highest level in China’s three-tier high-temperature alert system, followed by orange and yellow. A red alert is issued when temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius within 24 hours. (Xinhua) | 