Extreme Weather: Sea cucumbers melt in record high temperatures

World
Europe

02:03

Temperatures have hit record highs in many areas of China. Not only humans feel the burn, Scorching heat has caused massive deaths of sea cucumbers in Northeast Liaoning province since last week. In the city of Dalian alone, it's estimated farmers will suffer losses of 6.8 billion yuan, or about a billion US dollars. SUN TIANYUAN has the story.

Over 40 degrees Celsius. In northeast China's Liaoning province, temperatures rose to a record high. It was supposed to be a summer nap time for sea cucumbers. But when the water temperature rose, they never woke up. Stewing to death, they washed ashore in their thousands at a sea farm in Dalian.

YU CHANG SEA CUCUMBER FARMER "In previous years, temperatures were around 26 degrees. Only a few days might reach over 30. It eventually cools down after rain or a storm. But this year, the heat just keeps going."

The farmer said he would clear away over a ton of dead sea cucumbers every day. His partners tried to save the creatures, but it was too late.

"Any luck?"

"Nothing. They're all mushed up. Sticky and gooey. "

Based on the current market prices, Yu's loss could reach around 10 million yuan this year. At the last count, the province is going to lose 6.8 trillion tons of sea slugs this season. Meanwhile, in Germany, fish which had suffocated were seen floating on a river in Hamburg, and in France.

FRANCOIS-MARIE BREON CLIMATE SCIENTIST "When you see France's annual temperatures on an image like this, it's very clear that it's on track to pass those of the 80s. The frequency of these heat waves is increasing."

Extreme heat has become a global issue, affecting humans and every living thing. And there will be consequences. When temperatures peaked in the Arctic, as wild flames raged in Spain, who's to blame?