Scientists say rising global temperatures -- caused largely by burning fossil fuels -- are aggravating extreme weather worldwide, and many countries in Asia have experienced deadly heatwaves and record temperatures in recent weeks.
At the Nanjiao weather station in southern Beijing, considered a benchmark for temperatures in the capital, the mercury hit 41.1 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) at 3:19 pm (0719 GMT) on Thursday, the weather service said in a statement also carried by state broadcaster CCTV.
The figure is half a degree higher than the station's previous monthly record of 40.6 C taken in June 1961, and second only to the 41.9 C measured in July 1999, according to weather data.
"This station has only hit temperatures exceeding 41 C three times since records began," the weather service said, adding that "baking heat will persist in Beijing for the next two days, with temperatures perhaps reaching 38 C to 39 C".
Other weather stations around the capital chalked up even higher temperatures on Thursday, with Tanghekou in northern Beijing notching 41.8 C early in the afternoon, becoming the hottest place in the country, according to state media.
Along Beijing's canals, residents sought respite from the blazing heat by swimming and splashing around in the water.
In nearby Tianjin -- home to over 13 million people -- temperatures in the city centre also soared, with the western Xiqing district logging its hottest ever June day with 40.6 C.
Nationwide, some 17 weather stations "recorded record high temperature extremes" on Thursday, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).
"It never used to get this hot in June before, but now it's so hot my hands are trembling," wrote one user on the Weibo social media platform.
"Are there three suns blazing over Beijing right now? It's hot enough to cause a breakdown," wrote another.
- Holiday heat -
The scorching heat has coincided with the Dragon Boat Festival, a time when many Chinese go outside and socialise.
High temperatures are forecast to persist across northern China throughout the three-day public holiday, especially around Beijing and parts of the Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang regions.
"These current high-temperature weather systems are affecting large areas and persisting for a long time," state broadcaster CCTV said Thursday.
Authorities have urged people to limit their time outdoors and warned of the heightened risk of heatstroke and other health complaints.
Beijing's weather authority issued a warning for extreme heat and urged people to "avoid exercising outdoors for long periods... and take effective measures to shield from the sun".
In Tianjin, where an alert was also in place, officials said the "general public (should) remain aware and take precautions" against heat-induced strokes.
Last week, Beijing recorded its highest temperature for mid-June, with weather officials warning the public to stay indoors as the mercury hit 39.4 C.
France estimates up to 35,000 summer heat deaths since 2014
Paris (AFP) June 23, 2023 -
Between 30,000 and 35,000 people have died from the effects of summer heat in France since 2014, the country's public health agency said in an estimate released Friday.
Although heat deaths are often associated with the elderly, "a significant proportion -- one-third -- were of people aged under 75," Sante Publique France (SPF) found in a study.
France has seen more frequent heatwaves in recent years, especially in 2019 and 2022, as the effects of climate change make the phenomena more frequent -- without it being possibly to directly attribute any individual episode to global warming.
Last year alone, SPF tallied 3,000 excess deaths during three separate heatwaves.
But its latest study covers all summer heat periods, rather than just the highest peaks.
"Exposure for the general population on hot days outside heatwaves... is often seen as presenting no health dangers, when in fact it is also associated with increased risk of death," the authors wrote.
Taking such fatalities into account, the figure for summer heat deaths was between 29,612 and 34,975 in 2014-22 -- three times higher than the number for heatwaves alone over the same period.
SPF used complex models to arrive at its figures, with inputs including temperature and death rate fluctuations but also attempting to factor out other causes such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
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