Historic China Heat Wave Takes Toll on Lives and Crops

China has suffered the highest number of scorching days on record in the first half of this year, authorities said, after a historic heat wave sent thermometers in cities like Beijing soaring above 41 degrees Celsius, threatening lives and crops.

Since mid-June, a heat wave has swept across large swathes of China, hitting northern regions particularly hard. Beijing reported 15 days in June when the average temperature exceeded 35 C, while Shijiazhuang in neighboring Hebei province reported a similarly record-breaking 18 days for the month. This makes last month the hottest June on record for both cities, state broadcaster CCTV reported Saturday.