Driven by a super El Nino, Chile has experienced multiple rounds of torrential rainfall and severe convective weather since October, as meteorological experts warn that the extreme weather conditions may affect both the mining and agricultural sectors of the country.
According to data released by the Chilean Meteorological Directorate, rainfall in Santiago, the country's capital, reached 108 millimeters in the first 15 days of October alone, setting a new record for October precipitation since records began in 1914.
Meteorological experts attribute the abnormal rainfall to El Nino. In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), one expert noted that the current El Nino is expected to peak in December and could persist until around May to July next year. For Chile, this means increased rainfall and anomalous temperatures across the country's north-central and south-central regions.
"Chile stretches over 4,000 kilometers from the south to the north of its territory, so the effects of El Nino vary depending on the differences of regions and the different times of the year. For instance, during the winter, high temperatures were recorded in the far north region. There were incidents of intense rainfall in the central regions, where precipitation levels were significantly above normal. Meanwhile, the far south region experienced a lack of rainfall. For instance, Iquique [in northern Chile] has experienced over 40 days of heat waves during the nighttime and more than ten days of heat waves during the daytime so far. Furthermore, the city has also experienced its most intense heatwave on record this year," said Jarolin Sepulveda, a meteorologist of the Climate Services Office of Chilean Meteorological Directorate.
The extreme weather is already taking a toll on Chile's economic activities, particularly in the mining and agricultural sectors.
Chilean authorities reported that since July this year, a series of extreme weather events has hit mines across the country, forcing some mining areas to temporarily suspend production and disrupting road and port transportation. These events have negatively impacted Chile's copper production.
In agriculture, floods caused losses during the winter. With the arrival of spring, heavy rainfall and hail have delayed corn sowing, interrupted vegetable harvesting, and damaged some fruit crops in orchards.
Super El Nino drives extreme weather in Chile, threatening mining, agriculture
The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core keeps tightening the "cage of institutions" in Party building, which provides strong guarantees for advancing the cause of building a great country and achieving national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress held in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core included tightening Party discipline into the integrated plan on Party building in the new era, coordinating efforts to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to be corrupt.
Full and rigorous Party self-governance has been continuously extended to the grassroots level.
In 2024, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision started a nationwide campaign on addressing misconduct and corruption directly affecting the public.
Ping'an Village in Longquanyi District of Chengdu City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, recently completed constructions of new drainage outlets and ditches, and now heavy rain no longer disrupts traveling of the locals. The fund for the constructions was recovered from money that was embezzled by village officials.
"The money was recovered, and now the problem of rainwater accumulation has been solved. And the environment is getting better and better," said villager Wang Yuangang.
Since 2012, the Party has formulated or revised an unprecedented number of internal regulations, building a comprehensive framework of rules to confine power in "a cage of institutions".
"Why establishing rules? Fundamentally, it is to ensure that Party members and officials always keep in mind who they are, for whom they work, and on whom they rely," said Song Wei, researcher with the Institute for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Tsinghua University.
"We must uphold the principle that everyone is equal before rules and regulations, no one enjoys privileges in terms of compliance, and no exceptions are allowed in their enforcement, thus making sure that rules and regulations truly become live 'high-voltage lines'," said Li Li, deputy head of the School of Discipline Inspection and Supervision of China University of Political Science and Law.
Xi also launched an unprecedented anti-corruption storm that has swept every corner of public office, netting both high-ranking "tigers" and lower-level "flies". The anti-corruption campaign has continued unabated, with Xi stressing that the fight is an ongoing endeavor.
From January to September this year alone, discipline inspection and supervisory authorities filed more than 800,000 cases, including those against 73 officials at provincial and ministerial level or above, with 680,000 people receiving punishment, including 105 officials at provincial and ministerial level or above.
"The fight against corruption in the new era has been unprecedentedly forceful with clear effects. At the same time, we must recognize that the fight against corruption remains severe and complex, and the task of eradicating the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption remains arduous. Experience has taught us that anti-corruption is a major political endeavor that we cannot afford to lose and must never lose. We cannot pause for even a moment, nor can we retreat a single step. We must carry the anti-corruption fight through to the end," said Sun Songtao, deputy director of the case supervision and management office of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision.
CPC keeps tightening "cage of institutions" in Party building
