China launches record-high emergency response to heat

A summer heat wave sweeping China has brought high temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius, triggering a level two emergency response to heat from the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) for the first time on Tuesday.

The level two emergency response to heat covers provinces including east China's Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangxi,central China's Hunan and Hubei, south China's Fujian, and Shanghai and Chongqing municipalities.

The response is launched after a second level heat alert is issued for two consecutive days and will continue for the following three days, according to the CMA.

The second level heat alert has lasted for four consecutive days, with the highest temperature in the country exceeding 37 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures are expected to climb as high as 41 degrees Celsius in central Zhejiang Province, the southeast Sichuan Basin and parts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the CMA said.

The CMA forecast that temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius will linger along the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, regions south of the Yangtze River and southwest Chongqing Municipality from Tuesday to Aug. 8.

Authorities have warned the public against heatstroke and fires. They have also recommended that people take sufficient measures to stay cool and limit outdoor activities.