Chongqing intensifies efforts to prevent forest fires amid continuous high temperatures

Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has intensified forest fire prevention measures in response to continuous high temperatures that heighten the risk of wildfires.

On Sunday, the sprawling municipality -- home to more than four million hectares of forest coverage -- renewed a red alert for high temperatures for a fourth straight day, with temperatures hitting 40-43 degrees Celsius.

A red alert is the highest in the four-tier weather warning system in China.

A national forest park in Yongchuan District and its surrounding woodlands are critical areas for forest fire prevention. To mitigate the risk of fires associated with the extreme heat, local emergency rescue teams have increased their patrols deep within the forest.

"We currently patrol for four to five hours each day, covering a distance of over 10 kilometers. It's essential that we know our routes well. If we encounter any abnormalities or dangers, we need to identify the nearest route immediately to carry out rescue operations," said Qin Yongshuai, head of the patrol team.

The forest area is equipped with various facilities to prevent fires, including forest fire risk monitoring stations, fire prevention checkpoints and intelligent voice alert systems. Drones are also deployed to facilitate aerial monitoring and provide early warnings for critical areas.

Ongoing hot and sunny weather can also affect unstable rock masses. In Wushan County, about 440 kilometers from Chongqing's urban center, local geological disaster monitors have been ascending the cliffs to ensure that the crack meters -- devices that track fissures in hazardous rocks -- are functioning. Personnel also deployed drones to conduct overall inspections of the cracks.

Chongqing intensifies efforts to prevent forest fires amid continuous high temperatures

Russia said on Saturday that its armed forces still hold control of the strategic city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, but the claim was denied by the Ukrainian side. The Russian Ministry of Defense said in Saturday's report that Kupyansk is now under the control of its western group army.

Russian forces are also searching for Ukrainian soldiers hiding in various buildings and basements in Kupyansk, according to the report.

However, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine responded on the same day that the Ukrainian side still controls some of the residential areas in Kupyansk, and they have managed to besiege some of Russia's remnant troops. The battle in the urban area is still going on, it said.

Located by the river of Oskil, Kupyansk is an important stronghold for the Ukrainian forces as all supply lines of the Ukrainian army on the left bank of the Oskil River pass through the city.

Russian media believed that getting hold of Kupyansk allows Russian forces to continue advancing westward and open up a direct route from the south to Vovchansk.

Russia claims holding Kupyansk while Ukraine denies it