Unprecedented downpours in Xinjiang have prompted warnings that the region's infrastructure, long adapted to arid conditions, may struggle to cope with heavier rainfall.
Xu Xiaofeng, president of the China Meteorological Service Association and former deputy head of the China Meteorological Administration, highlighted the vulnerability of northwest China's ecosystems and infrastructure.
"These regions have long been arid, with fewer rivers, lakes or ponds. That means the land has limited capacity to absorb heavy rainfall, making roads more vulnerable to washouts and farmland more susceptible to flooding," he said.
"Many facilities in Xinjiang’s desert and the Gobi are designed for arid conditions – low rainfall, strong winds and large diurnal temperature variations – and over time they have adapted to the local environment," Xu added.
