Northeast Asia is not the geographical area one usually associates with sweltering heat. This year however, the inhabitants of the region are grappling with a fierce heat wave.
One of the countries in the grips of the searing heat is Japan. One of the Japanese cities even broke a record for highest ever temperature for the entire Japanese land. In Shimanto the temperature climbed to an incredible 105.8 Fahrenheit. 52 people have died so far in Japan, a record in heat mortality for that country. The temperature, to make things worse, is not expected to lower for another week.
South Korea is not faring much better. The government even had to curtail the use of AC systems to avoid rolling blackouts. South Korea was already struggling with power supply before the heat wave hit. Some nuclear reactors had to be shut down recently, prompting some officials to warn of a severe energy crisis. In Gimhae, this week, the temperature climbed to 39.2 celsius (102.6 Fahrenheit), breaking a 10 year record.
Shanghai, a city notoriously warm in the summer has become unbearable. Crops and livestock are also suffering, and people are hiding in malls and other cool spots. July was the hottest month recorded in a century and a half. The thermometer rose to 104 for 4 straight days.
Source : CNN/8.14.13
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