Taipei: Cities across China opened their air raid shelters to offer residents relief from the heat Friday as unusually high temperatures across parts of the country started claiming lives. Northern China is experiencing strings of days with record-high temperatures. Earlier this week, Beijing reported more than nine straight days with temperatures exceeding 35C, according to the National Climate Center – a streak unseen since 1961. Cities including Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Shijiazhuang over the past week announced opening their air raid shelters to residents seeking to escape the heat. Authorities have issued health alerts and suspended outdoor work. So far, two deaths in Beijing have been attributed to the scorching heat.