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| Extreme weather sweeps across Asia | Extreme weather sweeps across Asia |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| People across Asia are dealing with extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change | People across Asia are dealing with extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change |
| While torrential rains lash China, Pakistan and parts of India, sweltering heat has enveloped Japan and South Korea as extreme weather claims hundreds of lives in the region. | |
| Climate change has made weather extremities more intense, frequent and unpredictable, scientists say. | Climate change has made weather extremities more intense, frequent and unpredictable, scientists say. |
| This pattern is especially pronounced in Asia, which according to the World Meteorological Organization is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average. | This pattern is especially pronounced in Asia, which according to the World Meteorological Organization is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average. |
| The region has lost $2 trillion (£1.5 trillion) to extreme weather – from floods to heatwaves and droughts – over the past three decades, according to the annual Climate Risk Index survey. | The region has lost $2 trillion (£1.5 trillion) to extreme weather – from floods to heatwaves and droughts – over the past three decades, according to the annual Climate Risk Index survey. |
| Record heat | Record heat |
| Japan marked its hottest day on record on Tuesday, with 41.8C (107F) registered in Isesaki city, Gunma prefecture. | Japan marked its hottest day on record on Tuesday, with 41.8C (107F) registered in Isesaki city, Gunma prefecture. |
| The country had also experienced its hottest-ever June and July this year. | The country had also experienced its hottest-ever June and July this year. |
| Fifty-six people are believed to have died from heatstroke between mid-June and the end of July, Tokyo's medical examiner's office said earlier this week. | Fifty-six people are believed to have died from heatstroke between mid-June and the end of July, Tokyo's medical examiner's office said earlier this week. |
| Authorities have suspended some train services over concerns that the heat could warp or deform the rails. | Authorities have suspended some train services over concerns that the heat could warp or deform the rails. |
| "I'm really concerned about global warming, but when it comes to my daily life, I can't live without turning on the air conditioner," an office worker in Japan told AFP news. | "I'm really concerned about global warming, but when it comes to my daily life, I can't live without turning on the air conditioner," an office worker in Japan told AFP news. |
| "I don't really know what I should be doing, I'm just desperately getting through each day." | "I don't really know what I should be doing, I'm just desperately getting through each day." |
| This intense heat is expected to ease a little in the coming days, with some parts of Japan expected to see as much as 200mm of rain in the coming days. | This intense heat is expected to ease a little in the coming days, with some parts of Japan expected to see as much as 200mm of rain in the coming days. |
| This rain and briefly cooler air will allow some relief from the swelter. | This rain and briefly cooler air will allow some relief from the swelter. |
| South Korea marked a record streak of 22 "tropical nights" in July where temperatures exceeded 25C. | South Korea marked a record streak of 22 "tropical nights" in July where temperatures exceeded 25C. |
| Last month, the country's emergency services also reported a surge in calls about heat-related illnesses. | Last month, the country's emergency services also reported a surge in calls about heat-related illnesses. |
| Government agencies and workplaces have relaxed their dress codes to help employees work more comfortably and reduce dependence on air conditioning amid the heat. | Government agencies and workplaces have relaxed their dress codes to help employees work more comfortably and reduce dependence on air conditioning amid the heat. |
| Parts of Vietnam are also baking in unprecedented heat, with Hanoi recording its first-ever August day above 40C. The capital city has turned into "a pan on fire" in the last few days, Nam, a construction worker, told AFP. | Parts of Vietnam are also baking in unprecedented heat, with Hanoi recording its first-ever August day above 40C. The capital city has turned into "a pan on fire" in the last few days, Nam, a construction worker, told AFP. |
| Watch: Afghanistan taxi drivers use handmade coolers to beat the heat | Watch: Afghanistan taxi drivers use handmade coolers to beat the heat |
| Storm season | Storm season |
| It's a different picture in China, where floods across the country, from Shanghai to Beijing, have killed many in recent weeks. | It's a different picture in China, where floods across the country, from Shanghai to Beijing, have killed many in recent weeks. |
| Southern China has been battered by heavy rain, and on Wednesday emergency workers raced to clear debris as the region braced for more landslides and floods. | Southern China has been battered by heavy rain, and on Wednesday emergency workers raced to clear debris as the region braced for more landslides and floods. |
| Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. The flooded streets are threatening to worsen an outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus in the province. | Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. The flooded streets are threatening to worsen an outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus in the province. |
| Such rains are frequent in southern China at this time of the year, but have been enhanced further by tropical storm activity – more especially in the last month. | Such rains are frequent in southern China at this time of the year, but have been enhanced further by tropical storm activity – more especially in the last month. |
| Just last week, there were three active storms in the west Pacific, whilst prior to June, tropical storm activity was almost non-existent. | Just last week, there were three active storms in the west Pacific, whilst prior to June, tropical storm activity was almost non-existent. |
| Mountainous districts of the capital Beijng late last month were hit by deadly floods late last month which killed dozens including 31 residents in an eldercare home. | Mountainous districts of the capital Beijng late last month were hit by deadly floods late last month which killed dozens including 31 residents in an eldercare home. |
| Moment flash flood engulfs riverside village in India | Moment flash flood engulfs riverside village in India |
| Heavy rains are especially deadly in mountainous areas prone to landslides and densely populated areas, where flash floods often catch residents off-guard. | Heavy rains are especially deadly in mountainous areas prone to landslides and densely populated areas, where flash floods often catch residents off-guard. |
| More than 100 people are missing in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand after a cloudburst – an extreme, sudden downpour of rain over a small area – triggered flash floods. | More than 100 people are missing in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand after a cloudburst – an extreme, sudden downpour of rain over a small area – triggered flash floods. |
| In Pakistan, nearly 300 people, including more than 100 children, have died in rain-related incidents since June. The deluge has also destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings - at least a quarter of schools in the Punjab province have been partially or completely damaged, according to British aid agency Save the Children. | In Pakistan, nearly 300 people, including more than 100 children, have died in rain-related incidents since June. The deluge has also destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings - at least a quarter of schools in the Punjab province have been partially or completely damaged, according to British aid agency Save the Children. |
| Tuesday also brought more than 350mm of rain to Hong Kong, which reports say makes it the city's wettest August day since 1884. | Tuesday also brought more than 350mm of rain to Hong Kong, which reports say makes it the city's wettest August day since 1884. |
| For context, Hong Kong gets about 2400mm a year, most of which falls in summer between June and August. | For context, Hong Kong gets about 2400mm a year, most of which falls in summer between June and August. |
| Additional reporting by Kelly Ng in Singapore | Additional reporting by Kelly Ng in Singapore |