Heat waves this summer have exposed people to intolerable heat, which resulted in a large number of fatalities across Asia and several regions of Europe.
These heat waves are said to be a result of the ongoing climate crisis. Meteorological departments in these areas of the world have raised alarm as to the deaths that have resulted from heat-related illnesses. These illnesses are said to result in hyperthermia which is characterized by a severely overheated body, typically a reaction to hot, humid weather that lasts for a long time.
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India
India has been known to deal with heat in previous summer seasons. In the Northern State of Uttar Pradesh, temperatures hit 47 degrees Celcius before the heavy downpour that was experienced this past weekend.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, after the rains, the temperatures are expected to lower in the area which comes as a relief to the residents of the state. The Guardian reported that hospitals and morgues in India have been overwhelmed with patients suffering heat-related illnesses after temperatures in areas of the country hit levels above 45 degrees Celsius. More than 90 people have been reported to have perished from the effects of extreme heat in India.
China
Last week, Beijing was reported to have had the hottest day in June since the records started being made with temperatures hitting a record high of 41 degrees Celcius.
The country’s meteorological department reported that several cities in the country are expected to keep experiencing hot temperatures including Tianjin, Heibei, Shandong, and Beijing. Residents of the countries have resulted to unique ways of cooling their bodies as a result of the steady rise in temperatures over this summer season.
Europe
Europe is reported to be the fastest-warming continent on earth and its effects have been felt across the continent. Last year, there were more than 16,000 deaths reported in Europe resulting from extreme heat waves.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) produced a report that showed the effects of extreme heat on people living with disabilities in Europe. The report highlights their plight saying that they are more likely to die from the effects due to their bodies’ inability to respond adequately to extremely high temperatures.
In Britain, there has been a report of a heatwave expected to reach the country next month with the projected temperatures reaching above 40 degrees Celsius. The meteorological department has said that the Northern parts of the UK are more likely to be the receivers of the hot weather.
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Residents of Texas State in USA have also suffered three weeks of heat waves said to be caused by Canadian wildfires whose smoke has infiltrated into the United States.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has said that global temperatures are likely to surge to higher record-breaking levels in the coming five years. There is a need for climate action in order to mitigate the effects of extreme heat in areas of the world.
