Residents of Rio de Janeiro are flocking to the beaches as the Brazilian city swelters in the scorching summer sun.

The mercury has risen to over 40 degrees Celsius but meteorologists say the temperature is over 50 degrees when the high humidity is taken into account. On Monday, the temperatures soared to 40.4 degrees, the highest ever recorded in the Latin American country.
 

People are flooding to the ocean to try and cool off in the water and beaches at Copacabana and Ipanema overcrowded. Others are heading for the waterfalls in Tijouca. Meteorologists say the heatwave is expected to last until the weekend.
 

Doctors have warned people to compensate for the heat by drinking plenty of water and, coconut milk and isotonic drinks.