In response to a wide-ranging heat wave, China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) has issued an orange alert, the second-highest level, for regions including the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River and most parts of southeastern China, chinanews.com reported. According to the report, by July 24, a total of 700 million people had been affected by the heat.

Those people in regions covered by the alert have been experiencing the highest temperatures of the year so far. The temperature in some places even felt like 50 degrees Celsius.

The heat reached its peak on Monday, with thermometers registering over 35 degrees Celsius in many areas. The temperature in southern Hubei, central Hunan and western Zhejiang provinces even hit 40 degrees Celsius. Shanghai, Hubei and Chongqing also issued red alerts for high temperatures for the first time this year.

According to the NMC's chief forecaster, Ma Xuekuan, the heat wave will continue until the end of July. The temperature in some areas may reach 41 degrees Celsius, which will continue to put pressure on the power grid. The demand on the grid in Heifei, Anhui province on July 24 exceeded 5,171.4 megawatts--a historical high.

Currently, many local governments are assembling emergency plans to cope with the situation. An additional effect of the heat is that many people across the country have suffered from sunstroke, and some have even died.