In Guangdong Province, the heat wave caused 40 deaths early last month. Most of the victims were workers, and the youngest was just 20 years old, China Daily reported today.

Guangzhou, the provincial capital, which recorded temperatures above 38 degree only thrice between 1951 and 2003, has already witnessed mercury rising above 38 degrees three times in this month alone.

A Central Meteorological Station forecast yesterday warned that China will experience its highest temperatures of the year over next two days.

The forecast said temperatures in some parts of east China, such as Zhejiang Province, northeast part of Jiangxi Province and north part of Fujian Province, will soar to 40 degrees in the next two to three days, while temperatures elsewhere will range from 35 to 38 degree, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Central Meteorological Station has released a high-temperature warning for the week to remind citizens to prevent heatstroke and to arrange reasonable working plans, it said. The death of the workers prompted Chinese labour unions to urge lawmakers to take into consideration the plight of workers involved in building construction.