Tourists flocked to a giant thermometer in China showing surface temperatures of 80C while the death toll from torrential rains in South Korea hit 44 on Wednesday as the latest extreme weather sparked havoc and curiosity around the world.
Wildfires burned for a third day west of the Greek capital Athens, with air water bombers resuming operations at first light and firefighters working throughout the night to keep flames away from a complex of coastal areas.
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In a stifling Beijing, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry began the third day of talks with Chinese officials, expressing hope that cooperation to combat global warming could redefine troubled ties between the two superpowers.
A global pattern of heat waves scorched parts of Europe, Asia and the United States this week
The World Meteorological Organization warned on Tuesday of increased risk of deaths linked to excessively high temperatures.
In South Korea, deluges of rain have pummelled central and southern regions since last week. Fourteen deaths occurred in an underpass in the central city of Cheongju, where more than a dozen vehicles were swamped on Saturday when a river levee collapsed.
In the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, 22 people died, many from landslides and swirling torrents.
This year’s casualties have rekindled questions over South Korea’s efforts to prevent and respond to flood damage, less than one year after the heaviest downpours in 115 years pounded Seoul.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has said the situation was made worse because of lax management of vulnerable areas and failures to follow rules.
Editor: Oloyede Oworu
