Residents flocked to the beach to beat Brazil’s heat wave (Image: Getty)
Residents flocked to the ocean to beat the heat as Rio de Janeiro recorded its hottest day in at least a decade on Monday.
Temperatures soared to 111 F (44 degrees Celsius) which is the highest temperature since the southeastern Brazilian city started a climate alert system just over 10 years ago.
The second-highest temperature recorded in November 2023 at 110.8 F (43.8 degrees Celsius).
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City officials issued an alert for extreme heat for the coming days, set up hydration stations, and prepared the public health system to handle an increase in heat-related cases.
The powerful heat wave is expected to continue to ravage Brazil through Feb. 21, with meteorologists warning against potential life-threatening conditions.
The Núcleo de Climatologia Aplicada at the University of São Paulo (USP) has issued a chilling advisory wherein the sensation index could reach up to 158 F.
Southeast and southern Brazil is forecasted to bear the brunt of the hit, namely areas like Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Porto Alegre.
Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes on Sunday ruled out canceling Carnival festivities that ramp up over the coming weeks, but he recommended that revelers take precautions.
Authorities have also advised people to stay away from the sun during peak hours, stay hydrated, and in shaded areas whenever possible to avoid dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat strokes.
There has been heightened concern about heat at public events in Brazil since a Taylor Swift fan died during her Eras Tour concert in Rio during the November 2023 heat wave.
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According to the World Meteorological Organization, summers are getting hotter and longer due to the globe warming up.
Human-induced climate change is affecting weather and causing climate extremes across the globe, they said,
Approximately half of all children in 50 countries across Central Asia and Europe are facing request heatwaves, which is twice the global average.