China

Expo gears up for battle against extreme weather

By Tang Zhihao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-18 15:31

SHANGHAI - With increased possibilities of heavy showers and a typhoon after days of sizzling heat, Expo 2010 Shanghai organizers have vowed to be well prepared for any type of extreme weather.

Shanghai received heavy rainfall on Tuesday, prompting the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau to lift the alert level from yellow to red.

Before the downpour, Shanghai witnessed 22 consecutive hot days, with the highest temperature reaching 40 C.

It was forecast that the hot days in Shanghai will continue for another week, with some days of extreme weather.

"It is common to see a sudden thunderstorm in Shanghai in August and September. In some areas, the precipitation will be extremely high," said Wu Rui, a weatherman from the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.

With extreme weather looming over the city, Expo organizers are exuding great confidence in the venue's drainage system.

"The system is independent from other drainage facilities in the city. So the rainwater will be discharged into the Huangpu River to avoid water logging in the Expo Garden," said Xi Qunfeng, director of the project department of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

Xi said the water sewerage standard applied in the construction process was higher than the average standard in Shanghai.

"The system was designed to fight off extremely heavy rainfall," said Xi.

Expo organizers are also prepared with large number of sand bags and equipment to respond in case the precipitation crosses the alert level.

Though there was no major water logging reported in the Expo Garden following the rain on Tuesday, some pavilions suffered minor leaks.

"We could see water dripping from the roof of the Japanese Industry Pavilion," said a visitor, surnamed Yong. "The leakage was not serious."

Some 420,000 people entered the Expo site by 7 pm on Tuesday.

Five on-site health clinics treated 414 visitors yesterday by 4 pm.

Xinhua contributed to this story

INFORMATION

Beware of heat

In the wake of the continuous high temperature of 39 C since August 12, which has broken a 100-year record in Shanghai, Expo 2010 Shanghai officials have once again reminded visitors to take their health into consideration while planning their itineraries at the Expo Garden.

With an increasing number of cases of heat stroke, the organizers issued a notice on August 14 advising aged and ill visitors to avoid visiting the Expo in the hot season.

According to statistics published on the Expo's official website, more than 380,000 visitors visited the Expo Garden on August 13.

To help visitors beat the heat, facilities such as spray fans are now operational at 9 am, an hour earlier than before.

Extra Iceboxes have been added in the queuing area to provide better cooling for visitors when they line up outside the pavilion.

Besides, the number of shuttle buses has been increased to 230, with five different routes and 14 hop-on hop-off points. Cold drinks trolleys have been increased to 200.

Green card, easy access

The low-carbon emission travel card not only allows visitors to contribute directly to a low-carbon life but also allows them to enter certain pavilions without standing in queue.

The Netherlands Pavilion was the first pavilion that has signed the agreement to open an easy access entrance for low-carbon emission travel cardholders. Now 'We are the World' Pavilion, the low carbon pavilion in Pudong site, has followed suit.

The week between Aug 22 and 28 has been confirmed as the week of easy access entrance in the two pavilions this month.

The price of the low carbon transport cards is 40 yuan ($5.80), of which 20 yuan goes to the cost of the card, and the rest is donated to a project on lowering carbon emissions. The donation from one such card can reduce one ton of carbon emissions.

China Daily