China issues this year's first red alert for high temperatures

China's national observatory on Friday issued a red alert for high temperatures - the first of its kind this year - as an intense heatwave lingers in multiple regions of the country.

On Saturday, parts of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guizhou will experience high temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius, according to the National Meteorological Center.

Temperatures in parts of Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai may reach 40 to 42 degrees Celsius, or even surpass 42 degrees Celsius, said the center.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

The center advised the public to avoid outdoor activities during high-temperature periods and suggested workers shorten the duration of exposure to high temperatures outdoors.

Measures should also be taken to prevent fires caused by excessive power loads on wires and transformers due to excessive electricity consumption, it said.

China Daily - Xinhua