China fights brush fires, extends power rationing in drought

BEIJING: Brush fires have forced the evacuation of more than 1,500 people in southwestern China and power rationing for factories has reportedly been extended as weeks of record heat and drought batter the region.

Some shopping malls in the megacity of Chongqing have been ordered closed for most of the day to reduce electricity demand, state-run broadcaster China Central Television reported, limiting opening hours to 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.