People cool off in the Brussels Park in Brussels, Belgium, July 24, 2019. Belgium has been placed on red alert for the first time in recorded history following a heatwave that has swept the land, said David Dehenauw of the Royal Meteorological Institute (known as the "IRM"), on Twitter on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

BRUSSELS, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Belgium has been placed on red alert for the first time in recorded history following a heatwave that has swept the land, said David Dehenauw of the Royal Meteorological Institute (known as the "IRM"), on Twitter on Tuesday.

The red alert was decided as temperatures climbed to 33.7 degrees celsius on Tuesday, setting a new record and exceeding the previous record of 31.4 degrees in 2013.

"After consultation with the Risk Assessment Group and the Director General of the IRM, I decided to launch the RED CODE for HEAT in the next days," said David Dehenauw on Twitter.

"Take steps to keep yourself and others safe and, if possible, protect your belongings. Carefully follow the advice of the competent authorities", advised the IRM on its website.

Temperatures of 39 to 40 degrees Celsius are expected on Wednesday and Thursday across the country.

Many departments of the City of Brussels will close at 1 pm for the rest of the week, said the spokesman for mayor Philippe Close, Wafaa Hammich.