Global Heatwave: Temperatures Reaching Record Levels in UK, China, Korea, Austria and Hungary [PHOTOS]

Countries across the world are witnessing record temperatures, with Korea, China and many parts of Europe in the grip of heatwaves.

Health authorities across the globe have issued warnings about the dangers of hot weather, with people living in affected areas told to seek shade and drink lots of water. The UK's Met Office says that, during a heatwave, children and elderly people are at particular risk.

UK

The UK has already experienced a heatwave this year, with July being the third hottest month on record. The hottest day of the year so far was 1 August, when the mercury at Heathrow rose to 34.2C. However this record is expected to be beaten in the very near future.

James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, told the Daily Express: "It is likely that we will see the development of some drier, brighter and much warmer weather, especially in southern and eastern parts of the country, where the highest recorded temperatures of the summer could be surpassed once again."

Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, added: "There are signs later this month that we could see a return to the very hot weather and possibly another heatwave scenario."

China

Shanghai has been in the grip of a heatwave for the last few weeks, with reports saying the weather has been at its hottest for 140 years. The extreme temperatures are expected to continue in the coming days, with Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces expected to see 41C.

Since the start of the heatwave around two weeks ago, at least 10 people have died in Shanghai from the scorching temperatures and the government was forced to issue a heat alert.

To keep cool, people in Beijing have been visiting the air-conditioned paradise of Ikea. The Swedish furniture store has witnessed a surge in visitors in recent weeks, with people taking the chance to chill out on sofas and beds.

South Korea

Record temperatures have been recorded in South Korea for the past week, forcing the government to issue a warning about power shortages as electricity consumption increases.

An official from Korea Power Exchange said. "We breathed a sigh of relief after the daytime high temperature in Seoul was three degrees lower than forecast, but the supply shortage is expected to worsen as the heatwave continues."

Heat alerts were issued for most of the country, with temperatures remaining at around 35C. In Ulsan, the hottest day for 30 years was measured when the mercury climbed to 38.8C.

Night-time temperatures have remained higher than 25C for most parts of South Korea. Weather officials have said the hot weather is likely to continue for at least another week.

Hungary

Hungarian government officials have issued relaxed guidelines for many workers due to the hot weather, meaning men could ditch their ties and jackets and women could go without tights.

Temperatures in Hungary have reached the high 30s, remaining at this level for the last few days. The country has been experiencing the extreme weather for the last two weeks, with the hottest day recorded in Baja, in the south of the country, where temperatures of 40C were recorded - breaking the record 38.8C from 1905.

The mayor of the city of Otz was ordered by the government to restore full water supplies to slums where Roma people live. Pal Furjes shut down many of the public pumps that people living there depend upon in the midst of the heatwave, Reuters reports.

A local father of five said: "We thank the mayor very much. Next time he should shut down our air supply, too."

Austria

Hungary's neighbour Austria has witnessed record-breaking temperauters of 40.5C, beating the record 39.9C set five days earlier.

According to the Austrian Times, Vienna's Centre for Meteorology and Geodynamics said the hot weather was there to stay for the foreseeable future, with thunderstorms predicted for the weekend.

Cars in Lower Austria's St Polten district were badly damaged after a thunderstorm brought with it hailstones the size of golf balls. Over 200 firemen were also called on to pump flooded basements and clear trees felled by lightning.

Bulgaria

A Code Yellow heatwave alert was issued by the Bulgarian government on 8 August after mercury rose to 38C in parts of the country. Code Yellow is the second-highest warning in the country's alert system, with Red indicating extremely dangerous weather.

In Sofia, city officials said they would distribute water to people in the Sveta Nedelya square and the National Palace of Culture.

Authorities also warned people to avoid going out during the hottest part of the day, not to exercise excessively and to drink lots of non-alcoholic fluids.