People swamp shops for drinks and ice cream as temperature hits 37 degrees
'It's like a furnace in here!' These words from a Sai Kung ice cream vendor sweltering in his truck summed it up for everyone yesterday as a combination of heat and bad air had outdoor workers and shoppers sweating and choking.
Hundreds of elderly people made emergency calls for medical help and two hikers had to be flown to hospital in temperatures that reached 37 degrees Celsius in some places.
As Taiwan reeled from the force of Typhoon Haitang, a band of hot, still air bordering the storm contributed to the city's heatwave, helping to boost the air pollution index due to a poor dispersal of pollutants.
The index was high for most of the day, with the top of 178 recorded on the outlying island Tap Mun at 3pm.
Of 963 elderly people who pressed emergency alarms, 43 were admitted to hospital, many with dizziness or breathing problems.