Summer of Suffering: From US to Japan, the countries battling deadly heatwaves
Soaring temperatures put more than one-third of Americans on high alert over the weekend. Several parts of the country saw temperatures breach 45°C.
California’s Death Valley national park, often among the hottest places on Earth, was expected to equal or surpass its heat record of 54.4°C. Las Vegas could experience three consecutive days with a high of 46°C.
Italy is simmering with exceptionally high temperatures and humidity levels. The health ministry issued a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna, and Florence.
Temperatures in Rome, which is a major tourist destination, are expected to reach 42°C or 43°C on Tuesday.
The islands of Sicily and Sardinia in Europe were on yellow alert with temperatures as high as 48°C.
The Acropolis, Athens’ major tourist site, shuttered for the second day in a row Saturday during the hottest hours, with temperatures reaching 41°C.
France, Germany, Spain, and Poland also sweltering in blistering heat.
Japan issued heatstroke warnings to tens of millions of people, as near-record high temperatures torched big sections. The capital Tokyo and other places recorded nearly 40°C.
China also issued several heatwave alerts. It warned of 40° to 45°C in the partly desert region of Xinjiang and 39°C in the southern Guangxi region.