A fierce heatwave that has scorched the northern and central regions since the beginning of this month will continue over the next several days, the Central Hydro-meteorology Forecast Centre has warned.

Temperatures will remain at between 35-36 degrees Celsius in the northern region for the next three or four days or more and could peak at 38 degrees Celsius in the central region for a week, the centre said.

The ferocious heatwave struck northern localities from July 7, with the highest temperature recorded at 37.3 degrees Celsius in Ha Noi on July 15.

The central provinces of Nghe An, Ha The Tinh and Quang Binh were hit particularly hard. On July 2 temperatures in the area ranged from between 37-40 degrees Celsius.

According to the Central Hydro-meteorology Forecast Centre, similar heatwaves of over two weeks in length hit the country twice in 2003.