Officials from the Yangtze MSA have stepped up the number of on-board checks on vessels carrying dangerous cargo in recent days because of the high temperatures, according to the Yangtze River Administration. The daytime temperature has been hovering at 40°C for several days and the temperature on the deck of a vessel could reach 50 degrees, officials said. In the Yichang section of the river, where hundreds of vessels are waiting to pass the shiplocks every day, maritime safety officials went on board 51 DG vessels over a one-week period to inspect their safety.

Officials have called on all DG vessels to take extra precautions during the current hot weather.