Young hiker collapses and dies in Hong Kong as mercury hits 36.1 degrees Celsius, highest reading for July since records began
- Police say 33-year-old Indonesian woman collapsed while walking near Kai Kung Leng off Fan Kam Road in Pat Heung
- Observatory registered reading at about 3pm, higher by 0.4 degrees than original mark of 35.7 degrees in July 1968
A young woman collapsed while hiking and was certified dead in hospital as temperatures climbed as high as 36.1 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) in Hong Kong on Sunday, the hottest day of the year so far and the highest reading for July since records began more than 100 years ago.
The 33-year-old Indonesian woman collapsed while walking near Kai Kung Leng off Fan Kam Road in Pat Heung at about 4.15pm, according to police. Her friend called for an ambulance and the woman was airlifted to hospital, where she was declared dead, the force said.
The Observatory registered 36.1 degrees, which topped the original mark of 35.7 degrees in July 1968 by 0.4 degrees, at about 3pm at its headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui.
It was the highest temperature for July and third hottest overall since records began in 1884.
The weather station in Sheung Shui in North district logged 38.9 degrees, the highest in the city.