China endures record‑breaking heatwave as temperatures soar to 44 °C

The National Meteorological Center warned that north‑western China will face a prolonged heatwave, with daily highs of 41 °C to 44 °C expected for up to nine days. Southern North China and the Huang‑Huai region are also projected to see temperatures of 39 °C to 41 °C, while the Yangtze River Delta will experience highs of 35 °C to 38 °C. Authorities urged residents to stay hydrated, use cooling measures and avoid strenuous outdoor activity, noting risks such as dizziness and heart palpitations.

In Xinjiang’s Turpan basin, surface temperatures reached 84 °C, the highest recorded this summer, while the nearby Flaming Mountains recorded their peak heat. Rapid snowmelt from the Kunlun Mountains caused flash floods in Qiemo County, damaging roads across the Gobi Desert; local officials deployed heavy machinery to clear debris and reinforce drainage.

A concurrent global temperature snapshot placed Turpan at the top of the world’s hottest cities on 5 July, with 49.1 °C, followed by stations in Iraq, Pakistan, Qatar, Kuwait and Iran, all surpassing 46 °C. No Tunisian city entered the top‑15 list, underscoring regional variations in extreme heat.