Uruguay issues heatwave warning

Uruguayan authorities on Tuesday issued an "orange" moderate-to-high risk heatwave warning as high temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius would affect most provinces of the country. The National Meteorological Bureau predicted an extended period of high temperatures from midday Wednesday to Thursday in the country's northern, western and southern regions, including the capital of Montevideo. "We forecast maximum temperatures of between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius and minimum temperatures of 22 degrees Celsius or higher" in 15 of the country's 19 departments, the agency said. The National Emergency System released a warning that sweltering days can harm people's health, and urged them to take precautionary measures to avoid heat stroke.