Live news updates: Hundreds evacuated as forest fires blaze in China’s drought-hit Chongqing

More than 1,500 people have been evacuated after forest fires struck the municipality of Chongqing in south-west China, which is in the midst of a record heatwave and a devastating drought.

The fires were affecting at least four districts of the municipality, according to authorities, and 5,000 rescue workers had been sent to help. Chongqing, which has a population of over 30mn, is south-west China’s biggest financial centre.

The months-long heatwave sent temperatures towards a high of 43.4C in Chengdu on Sunday and the drought has emptied rivers and dams in neighbouring Hubei and Sichuan provinces, which rely on hydropower.

Officials in Sichuan extended an order for industrial power users, including makers of lithium batteries and solar panels, to suspend their plant operations until at least August 25 to preserve energy.