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Meteorologists have labeled this summer the hottest since nationwide records began in 1951, with nearly half of China's population sweltering in a prolonged heat wave.

A record-breaking 44 C was registered on Sunday in Xinchang, Zhejiang province, and the National Meteorological Center issued an orange alert for a record 21st straight day.

Weather authorities use a four-tier, color-coded warning system, with red being the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

"On Aug 6, the heat reached a peak, affecting more than 700 million people in 19 provinces and regions," said Wang Youmin, a researcher at the China Meteorological Administration's National Climate Center.

As of Wednesday, eight of the worst-affected provinces, including Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Jiangxi, had recorded an average maximum temperature of 35.6 C since July, with temperatures at 477 weather sites setting records, the National Meteorological Center said.

Climatologist Li Weijing said, "With global warming, extreme events like abnormally hot summers and cold winters will become frequent."

The high temperatures have prompted several authorities to issue public warnings, with the heat causing dozens of deaths, severe drought and challenging water and power supplies.

In Shanghai and Zhejiang, at least 30 people have died because of the heat since July, while hundreds have been hospitalized.

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