At least 15 people have died in China due to heat strokes, taking the total number of people killed due to rare prolonged heat-wave to 31.
The heat wave -- the worst in at least 140 years in some parts -- has left dozens of people dead and pushed thermometers above 40 degrees C in at least 40 cities and counties, mostly in the south and east.
This week, 10 people died due to Heat-stroke in Shanghai, which has recorded temperature over 42 degree Celsius, the highest in its history.
The death-toll in Zhejiang Province since June is more than three times higher than that of the number of people died in the province in the corresponding period last year, a state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The province has reported 2,082 heatstroke patients, including 288 critical cases, according to the centre. The number of serious heatstroke cases rose 247 per cent from 2012.
Chinese meteorologists have attributed the extremely hot weather to a number of factors, including strong, stable subtropical high pressure, the absence of typhoons and global warming.
The province has witnessed 37 days with temperature of more than 35 degree Celsius. Maximum temperatures were recorded in Zhoushan, Fenghua and the provincial capital, Hangzhou. The highest temperature recorded was 43.5 degrees Celsius in Fenghua City.
Central China's Hunan Province and southwestern Chongqing Municipality have each reported three deaths from the condition.
