Heatwaves, Wildfires Grip World As Extreme Weather Persists
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Swathes of Europe, Asia, and the Americas are experiencing extreme weather conditions, including scorching heatwaves and wildfires, prompting health warnings and raising concerns about climate change.
In Greece, firefighters are battling blazes near Athens, while heat alerts have been issued in Spain. In Italy's Sardinia, children have been warned to avoid sports due to safety concerns. The city of Phoenix in the United States broke a 49-year-old record with 19 consecutive days of temperatures reaching 43.3 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher.
Authorities worldwide have emphasized the health risks associated with the extreme heat, urging people to stay hydrated and seek shelter from the sun. Southern France has witnessed the breaking of several local temperature records, with the Alpine ski resort of Alpe d'Huez reaching a record 29.5 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit) at an altitude of 1,860 meters (6,100 feet), and Verdun recording 40.6 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time.
The World Meteorological Agency (WMO) of the United Nations warned that the trend of heatwaves shows no signs of decreasing and called for preparations to deal with more intense heatwaves. John Nairn, a senior extreme heat advisor at the WMO, emphasized the need for the world to be ready for the increasing intensity of such events.
Wildfires continue to pose threats in various regions, including the forest of Dervenohoria in Greece, where columns of smoke loom. The Canary Islands are also battling a blaze that has forced thousands of residents to evacuate. Italy and Spain have faced soaring temperatures, with some regions under red alerts.
The impact of climate change has been cited as a contributing factor to these heatwaves. Robert Vautard, director of France's Pierre-Simon Laplace climate institute, stated that the heatwaves are not isolated events but a result of multiple factors influenced by climate change.
In parts of Asia, record-breaking temperatures have triggered heavy rainfall. Southern China and Vietnam evacuated nearly 260,000 people ahead of a typhoon that made landfall on Monday, later weakening to a tropical storm.
The occurrence of these extreme weather events comes as US climate envoy John Kerry meets with Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss efforts in reducing emissions and addressing climate change.