Eastern China scorched by record heatwave
Parts of central China also affected by worst heat since records began; Several cities issue red alert warnings as temperatures pass 40 degrees
Eastern and parts of central China continued to swelter yesterday in a record-breaking heatwave as weather authorities in several cities issued red alert warnings over soaring temperatures.
In Chongqing, Hangzhou and Yuyao in Zhejiang province temperatures surpassed 40 degrees Celsius for the second consecutive day. Shanghai issued its first red alert since 2009, with temperatures there reaching 39 degrees.
The continuous heatwave has seen electricity consumption jump dramatically in Hangzhou and Shanghai, placing the cities' power grids under strain
The provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei also sizzled under peak temperatures of 39 degrees.
The continuous heatwave has seen electricity consumption jump dramatically in Hangzhou and Shanghai, placing the cities' power grids under strain.
Cyclists in Hangzhou were forced to improvise with hats, gloves and visors to protect themselves from the scorching sun. The city's swimming pools were also mobbed with people desperate to cool off for a while.
Local TV reported that hundreds of people briefly blocked up a metro station in Qiaosi as they loitered to enjoy the air conditioning underground.
After failing to persuade the crowds to disperse, station staff decided to cut off the power supply in the hallways from 6am to 10pm, citing safety concerns.