China issues orange alert as temperatures soar

China has issued an orange alert for heat wave, the second highest in terms of severity, as temperatures in financial hub Shanghai and some other areas touched 40 degrees Celsius.
Over seven million cubic metres of supply water were consumed in the central urban area each day, the highest volume of the summer.
Temperatures in Shanghai reached 40 degrees Celsius after a five-day heat wave, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today, citing the municipal meteorology station.
An orange alert for high temperatures in southern and western regions remains in force, with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius expected in some areas, the report said.

The heat wave is expected to continue this week.
China has a four-colour-coded warning system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.