Record May temperature scorches Hanoi

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, of the remaining four weather stations in the city, Lang, Ba Vi and Son Tay stations all recorded a maximum of over 40 degrees and only Hoai Duc did not.

Also recording temperatures of above 40 degrees in the north were Lac Son in Hoa Binh Province, Viet Tri in Phu Tho and Phu Ly in Ha Nam.

Eight other provinces reported temperatures of over 39 degrees.

In the central region, the districts of Hoi Xuan and Tinh Gia in Thanh Hoa and Tay Hieu and Do Luong in Nghe An saw temperatures soaring past 40 degrees.

The cause of the current heat wave is the expansion of a hot front from the west combined with the Foehn wind effect.

The meteorological center forecast the intense to spread in the north on Thursday, with maximum temperatures of 36-39 degrees in many places and over 39 degrees in some.

On Friday they will be 35-37 degrees, and above 37 degrees in some places, and humidity will be around 45-60%.

The heat wave is forecast to last until May 23.

The intense heat along with low humidity and southwestern winds can cause fires in residential areas due to increased demand for electricity and in forests.

Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause dehydration, exhaustion and heat strokes.