Residents in HCM City wear masks and jackets to avoid direct sunlight. The ultraviolet (UV) radiation index is forecast to reach high-risk levels in the south until Friday. VNA/VNS Photo Bùi Giang

HÀ NỘI — The ultraviolet (UV) radiation index reached the high-risk level in the south on Tuesday and will remain so for the next three days, according to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.

Information released by the centre showed from Wednesday to Friday, the index will be at the high-risk level of 10 and above in HCM City, Nha Trang City, and the southern provinces of Cần Thơ and Cà Mau while remain at the low-risk level in the north.

In the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế and Đà Nẵng City, the index will reach the high-risk level of 8 before dropping down to average. Strong UV radiation will be recorded mostly from 11am to 1pm.

People are advised to apply measures against sunburn such as wearing protective clothing to cover their faces, necks and ears, wearing sunglasses, applying sunscreen when going out – even on a cloudy day, as well as drinking lots of water and having enough vitamin C supplements.

Children should be given extra attention while playing outdoors due to the high sensitivity of their skin, doctors said, but should not be forbidden to take part in such activities.

A UV radiation index of 8 to 10 indicates strong UV radiation that can penetrate clouds, glasses and cause burns within 25 minutes.

An index from 11 and above shows very strong UV radiation that can cause damage to the human skin and eyes within 15 minutes of direct exposure to sunlight.

The centre also warned of a cold snap forming in Hà Nội yesterday night which will start affecting some other localities in the north and central regions today. — VNS