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Story summary
- China warned of floods in Xinjiang’s northwest after a heat and rain surge, reporting the Taklamakan Desert flooded for the first time in 2026.
- Temperatures reached 38 °C on June 12, 7.3 °C above, while rainfall in western Xinjiang doubled or tripled the June norm.
- Melting glaciers fed the Tarim River, causing overflow that threatened roads, railways and oil facilities and prompting Sun Qianqian to advise residents to monitor warnings and adjust travel.
