DUSHANBE - Scorching summer temperatures in the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan hit a 50-year record at the end of June of 47°C (116.6°F). The temperature was recorded in the shade at the central meteorological monitoring station in the west of the mountainous country.

This was the hottest weather recorded since 70 years ago, when temperatures in Dushanbe hit 43.5°C.

The Tajik natural resources ministry warned that the heatwave in Tajikistan - the poorest of the five ex-Soviet republics in Central Asia, which has been afflicted by drought for the second year - could cause serious fires.