People, crops and fish suffer in China heat wave

By Jethro Mullen, CNN

Updated 4:17 AM ET, Thu August 1, 2013

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Mass crowds of people attempt to cool off at a water park in Suining, Sichuan province on Saturday, July 27, amid a record heat wave hitting 19 provinces and regions in China.
Photos: China reckons with heat wave
China reckons with heat wave – Mass crowds of people attempt to cool off at a water park in Suining, Sichuan province on Saturday, July 27, amid a record heat wave hitting 19 provinces and regions in China.
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People are packing into swimming pools or taking refuge in caves to escape the fierce temperatures. Local governments are resorting to cloud-seeding technology to try to bring rain to millions of acres of parched farmland.
Photos: China reckons with heat wave
China reckons with heat wave – People are packing into swimming pools or taking refuge in caves to escape the fierce temperatures. Local governments are resorting to cloud-seeding technology to try to bring rain to millions of acres of parched farmland.
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A pedestrian in Shanghai uses his jacket to shield himself from the sun on Wednesday, July 24. Shanghai experienced its hottest July in at least 140 years, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher on 25 days last month. More than 10 people died of heatstroke in the city.
Photos: China reckons with heat wave
China reckons with heat wave – A pedestrian in Shanghai uses his jacket to shield himself from the sun on Wednesday, July 24. Shanghai experienced its hottest July in at least 140 years, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher on 25 days last month. More than 10 people died of heatstroke in the city.
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A man ferries several cases of bottled water on his scooter as a heat wave continues in Shanghai on July 24.
Photos: China reckons with heat wave
China reckons with heat wave – A man ferries several cases of bottled water on his scooter as a heat wave continues in Shanghai on July 24.
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A young girl in Shanghai eats a popsicle next to an air conditioning unit to cool off on Tuesday, July 16.
Photos: China reckons with heat wave
China reckons with heat wave – A young girl in Shanghai eats a popsicle next to an air conditioning unit to cool off on Tuesday, July 16.
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A woman uses an umbrella as sun protection as a heatwave hits Shanghai on Thursday, July 4.
Photos: China reckons with heat wave
China reckons with heat wave – A woman uses an umbrella as sun protection as a heatwave hits Shanghai on Thursday, July 4.
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Two men take shelter from the heat in a metro station in Shanghai on Tuesday, July 2.
Photos: China reckons with heat wave
China reckons with heat wave – Two men take shelter from the heat in a metro station in Shanghai on Tuesday, July 2.
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Workers install an air conditioning unit in a food stall in Shanghai on July 2.
Photos: China reckons with heat wave
China reckons with heat wave – Workers install an air conditioning unit in a food stall in Shanghai on July 2.
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A man takes a break from the heat in a Shanghai park on July 2.
Photos: China reckons with heat wave
China reckons with heat wave – A man takes a break from the heat in a Shanghai park on July 2.
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Story highlights

  • Shanghai experiences its hottest July in at least 140 years
  • Dozens of people have died from heat-related causes in recent weeks, state media report
  • A meteorological agency has issued its second-highest national alert
  • Local authorities are resorting to cloud-seeding methods to try to induce rain
Record-breaking temperatures have been searing large swaths of China, resulting in dozens of heat-related deaths and prompting authorities to issue a national alert.
People are packing into swimming pools or taking refuge in caves in their attempts to escape the fierce temperatures. Local governments are resorting to cloud-seeding technology to try to bring rain to millions of acres of parched farmland.
The worst of the smoldering heat wave has been conc