Since Tuesday, Beijingers have been living in a natural sauna: the unbearable heat outdoors has caused clothes to become saturated and cling to the skin, said the newspaper.

Although the highest temperature on Wednesday was 34 degrees Celsius, the humidity was over 80 percent, which could raise the incidence of heatstroke.

Sources from the Beijing Municipal Meteorological Observatory said a band of subtropical high pressure is affecting the north China plain where Beijing is situated, making it difficult for ground moisture to be absorbed into the atmosphere so it hangs over the city instead.

According to sources, a reduction in humidity and heat could come about Sunday.

The hot and humid weather also increased air pollution Wednesday, the newspaper quoted the Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau as saying.

The hot weather has raised the incidence of illness. The 120 First-Aid Centers in Beijing received more than 230 phone calls for help on Wednesday alone with most of the patients having cardiovascular symptoms or accidents.

Medical experts suggest that a wise way to survive the hot weather is to reduce outdoor activities.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2002)