The Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar has saunaed in recent days in its highest recorded temperature and local meteorologists fear that the mercury may go up even higher.

The highest ever recorded temperature for Zanzibar of 39.4 degrees Celsius was disclosed by Philbert Tibaijuka, director of forecasting at the Tanzania Meteorological Agency, on the eve of the World Meteorological Day, which falls on Friday.

"Although we have had temperatures around 35 or 36 degrees centigrade, it has never been as high as 39.4 before," said the meteorologist.

He warned the public that due to the rising temperature because of the greenhouse effect-caused global warming, the sea level is estimated to rise by between nine centimeters and 88 centimeters by the year 2100.

Zanzibar, a tourist resort just off the East African coast, had the following as the previously recorded highest temperature for each month between January and December: 36, 38, 38, 36, 32, 31, 31, 31, 35, 36, 37, and 36 degrees Celsius.

The monthly average high temperature for the isles ranges from 32, 32, 32, 30, 28, 28, 27, 28, 28, 30, 31, to 31 degrees centigrade.

Source: Xinhua