Key facts
- China has warned of "extreme floods" in its northwestern Xinjiang and nearby regions this summer.
- The floods are attributed to high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and rapid glacier melt.
- The Taklamakan Desert, China's largest, experienced its first flood of the year in early June.
- Glacier and snowmelt from the Tianshan and Kunlun mountains has caused the Tarim River to overflow.
- Officials warned of significant risks to infrastructure, including roads, railways, and oil and gas facilities.
China has issued a warning for "extreme floods" in its northwestern Xinjiang and surrounding regions this summer, driven by a combination of unusually high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and accelerated glacier melt. The Taklamakan Desert, typically arid, experienced its first flood of the year in early June, significantly earlier than usual.
Temperatures in Xinjiang have surged, reaching 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) on June 12, which is 7.3 degrees Celsius hotter than the average for this time of year. Additionally, some areas have seen precipitation double or even triple the historical average for early June. This intense heat and rainfall have caused substantial melting of glaciers and snowpack in the Tianshan and Kunlun mountains. The resulting runoff has flowed into the Tarim River, China's longest inland waterway, causing it to breach its banks and spill into lower-lying desert areas.