Record heat grips Japan, turns Vietnam into ‘pan on fire'
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Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as climate change creates ever more erratic weather patterns, and Japan is no exception.
The scorching temperatures in the city of Isesaki on Tuesday surpassed the previous record seen in the western Hyogo region of 41.2 degrees only last week.
Japan's summer last year was the joint hottest on record, equalling the level seen in 2023, followed by the warmest autumn since records began 126 years ago.
Last week in tourist hotspot Kyoto, the mercury hit 40 degrees, the first time any of its observation points – the oldest opened in 1880, the newest in 2002 – had seen such a high, authorities said.
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Experts warn Japan's beloved cherry trees are blooming earlier due to the warmer climate or sometimes not fully blossoming because autumns and winters are not cold enough to trigger flowering.
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