Heatwaves hit northern hemisphere

BEIJING - Russia, the United States and some European and Asian countries have suffered frequent heat waves this summer. The long, hot summer in the northern hemisphere is becoming one of the most important climate issues this year.

ASIA: HEATSTROKE RAMPANT IN JAPAN, GRID WORKLOAD RECORD HIGH IN BEIJING

Japan was hit by a heatwave with an average temperature above 35 degrees Celsius from July 19 to July 25, during which 9436 people were treated for heatstroke and a record 57 died.

The prolonged hot weather was caused by an anticyclone from the Pacific Ocean, the meterologic authorities of Japan said, adding continuing hot weather was possible. Experts called on people to take measures against the heat.

Most of northern China and parts of the south have had days of high temperature. At 11:40 Thursday, Beijing"s grid workload amounted to 16.66 million kilowatts, which rewrote the record set the day before and far exceeded the 15.70 million kilowatts expected in this summer.

More than 15 provinces would suffer from hot weather from Thursday, National Meteorological Center of China Meteorological Administration said in a heat wave warning Thursday.

RUSSIA: AGRICULTURE SUFFERS, DROWNING ACCIDENTS INCREASE

Moscow marked a record 37.7 degrees Celsius on Thursday, making the day the hottest in the city in 130 years.

The Moscow meteorological bureau said, in some districts of Moscow, the temperature reached as high as 39 degrees Celsius.

July has already been tagged the hottest month in the history of weather observations in Russia, and central Russia has been scorched by an ongoing heatwave since mid-June, with media reporting temperature records being set almost daily.

Twenty three districts are suffering serious drought and 100,000 square kilometers or one fifth of all the crops in Russia have been destroyed.

Wildfire prompted by hot and dry weather has also increased. Frequent forest fires enveloped Moscow in smog, resulting in some residents complaining about breathing problems.