Dangerous heatwaves strike globe as wildfires rage

Heatwave grips three continents as Japan issues a heatstroke alert and temperatures are expected to soar in the U.S. and some countries in Europe. Despite the heat, parts of Asia have also been battered by torrential rain.

Scorching weather gripped three continents on Sunday, whipping up wildfires and threatening to topple temperature records as the dire consequences of global warming take shape.

Predictions of historic heat hung over swathes of Asia, Europe and the United States.

Japan issued heatstroke alerts to tens of millions of people in 20 of its 47 prefectures as near-record high temperatures scorched large areas and torrential rain pummelled other regions.

"Every time we're visiting somewhere there seems to be a heatwave or like a rare weather disaster," said Texan tourist Anthony Fernandez in Tokyo.

"It's kind of becoming like the new normal... climate change is a big concern," the 29-year-old said.

National broadcaster NHK warned the heat was life-threatening, with the capital and other places recording nearly 40 degrees Celsius.

Japan's highest temperature ever — 41.1 degrees Celsius first recorded in Kumagaya city, Saitama, in 2018 — could be beaten, according to the meteorological agency.