Ankara: Turkey’s Environment Ministry reported that meteorologists have registered a record-breaking temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius (122.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southeast of the country, marking a new nationwide high. The unprecedented temperature was recorded on Friday in Silopi, a town located just 10 kilometers from Turkey’s borders with Iraq and Syria, as announced by the ministry in a post on X on Saturday.
According to Deutsche Welle, the Environment Ministry also noted that 132 weather stations across Turkey reported record temperatures for July. The Turkish meteorological service highlighted that temperatures are soaring up to 12 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages. This extreme heat has led to a surge in hospital cases involving dehydration, heatstroke, and foodborne illnesses, as reported by Turkish newspaper Hrriyet.
The soaring temperatures, coupled with strong winds and dry conditions, have sparked numerous wildfires throughout the country. A new fire erupted on Friday near high-rise apartments in Antalya, a popular Mediterranean resort city. The blaze prompted evacuations in both the city center and the Aksu district. Antalya recorded its highest July temperature at 46.1 degrees Celsius since records began in 1930. Wildfires were also reported in the provinces of Karabuk, Sakarya, and Bilecik in northern Turkey, leading to the evacuation of several villages. Tragically, 13 people lost their lives fighting a fire in Eskisehir province in western Turkey on Wednesday.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking after Friday prayers, described the situation as a “truly great disaster.” He stated that 25,000 personnel are engaged in battling the fires across the country, with support from 27 planes, 105 helicopters, and 6,000 ground vehicles.
The heat wave has also severely impacted the eastern Mediterranean region, affecting countries like Greece, Cyprus, and Albania, which are either experiencing extreme heat or contending with fires. Greece has requested assistance from the European Union to combat wildfires that have erupted in various regions. One of the most severe fires occurred just north of Athens, destroying homes and prompting police to evacuate residents. Strong winds were exacerbating the fires near Athens, in other locations, and on the Peloponnese peninsula. The blaze has also spread to the islands of Crete, Euboea, and Kythera. The fires ignited nearly a week into a heat wave, with temperatures in Greece surpassing 45 degrees Celsius.
Greek authorities have taken measures to close the Acropolis, the country’s premier archaeological site, during the hottest parts of the day, from midday to 5 p.m., and advised tourists to seek shade.