Cities on four continents are scorching from extreme heatwaves as the Northern Hemisphere marks its first day of summers, a signal that climate change may be a factor in the record-breaking heat that may exceed last summer as the best in 2, 000 times.
In Asia and Europe, record heat already in the last few weeks are thought to have resulted in hundreds, if not thousands of deaths.
Nearly two million Muslim travellers are finishing the haji at the Grand Mosque in Mecca this week in Saudi Arabia. However, in addition to the journey, hundreds of people have died while the temperature is below 51C. Around 10 states have reported 1, 081 incidents, according to an AFP count.
Countries along the Mediterranean have even experienced blistering higher conditions that have caused bush fires from Portugal to Greece and along Algeria’s north coast. This year, scientists in Serbia predicted temperature of around 40C as a popular entrance swept across the Balkans from North Africa. The emergency service in Belgrade reported that doctors arrived 109 times over to treat patients with heart and serious illnesses. In the midst of harmful heat, Europe has been dealing with a large number of tourists who have died and are still missing.
With over 86 million people on call, parts of the US Northeast and Midwest are even wilting under a heat dome. A high-pressure system traps heated air over a region, preventing cool air from entering and keeping ground temperatures at high. New York City announced this year that it may start cooling centers for the first time. Additionally, Phoenix and other areas of Arizona are expected to experience temperatures of 45.5C, which is an extreme heat notice.
In Mexico, at least 125 people have died due to the heat this month, according to region’s health department. Over 2, 300 more have suffered heat injury, dehydration and skin.
According to the EU’s weather monitoring service, the wildfires are occurring in the midst of 12 consecutive weeks that have ranked as the best on record in year-on-year comparisons.
