People are having to cope with temperatures soaring to nearly 40 degrees Celsius... and

record-high humidity levels.

Kim Min-ji has the details. A record-breaking heat wave continues to bake Northeast Asia

and,... according to weathercasters,... it's likely to continue for some time.

Koreans suffered another suffocating day on Thursday,... as temperatures climbed above

33 degrees Celsius nationwide... and humidity levels also rose to record levels.

The southern part of the country saw mercury levels rise to nearly 40 degrees Celsius,...

which resulted in the deaths of two people from heatstroke.

Meanwhile,... temperatures in China have also hovered above 40 degrees Celsius in some parts

of the country this week,... the highest levels on record since data collection began in 1951.

The commercial city of Shanghai saw its daily high soar to 40-point-6 degrees on Wednesday,

which left 10 people dead of heat-related illnesses.

The city has issued a heat alert... and the high temperatures will likely continue over

the weekend.

In neighboring Japan,... people have been suffering from sweltering temperatures for

a month that have resulted in the deaths of 16 people in this week alone.

The Japanese media report that more than 1-thousand people a day have been rushed to hospitals

for heat stroke,... while at least 85 people have died since May.

Mercury levels have topped 39 degrees Celsius in Japan for the last few weeks.

Over in Taiwan,... the capital saw its temperatures reach a record high 39-point-9 degrees Celsius,...

the highest reading in 117 years.

The extreme weather conditions in Asia are attributed to strong subtropical pressure

from the sea.

Weather authorities say the high temperatures will likely continue until the middle of August.

They advise people to avoid outdoor activity and stay hydrated.

Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.