From heat to fires… How do humans deal with nature’s wrath? (photo)
Tens of millions of people in the northern hemisphere are suffering from a severe heat wave this summer, which makes water bottles, street taps or fountain water a haven for people around the world to hydrate their bodies in the face of the sun above their heads.
Citizens are also trying to escape with their lives from forest fires or even to increase the flood waters in Afghanistan, which claimed the lives of 31 people in the center of the country.
Children in Palestine are having fun in a rubber pool, while an elderly man decided to stay in front of the fan in his house, according to news agencies.
It seems that the world will record the hottest month of July in its history, according to experts.
The World Meteorological Organization set the absolute world record level at 56.7 degrees Celsius in Death Valley, which extends on the border between California and Nevada, in 1913, but many meteorologists do not consider it reliable.
Southern Europe may witness record temperatures in the next few days, as the heat wave sweeps across most of the continent.
Italy, Spain, France, Croatia and Turkey were all affected by extreme temperatures.
The record heat wave in the southern United States is expected to expand in the coming days.
Greece is facing a week-end that “may be the hottest in the past fifty years” during July, according to experts.
Greece
Thousands of tourists and residents on the Greek island of Rhodes took refuge in closed schools and playgrounds today, Sunday, after being evacuated from coastal villages and resorts, in light of the continuation of forest fires on the island for the sixth day.
Meanwhile, in 24 hours, 46 new fires broke out in Greece, according to the fire service.
Fires are a frequent occurrence in Greece, but high temperatures, dryness and windy summers have become more frequent in the past few years.
United State
About 80 million people in the United States will experience a heat wave of more than 41 degrees Celsius over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Tourists flock to Death Valley in the United States, one of the hottest spots in the world, to take pictures with a temperature screen outside the visitor center.
Iraq
Forest fires affected Arab countries. Today (Sunday) 3 thousand dunums of natural areas were burned in the town of Nalbariz in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate in northern Iraqi Kurdistan, and after many efforts, the fire, which spread to other areas and took 30 continuous hours, was controlled, due to the ruggedness of the area, according to official sources.
Canada
On the other hand, in Canada, heavy rains fell in the province of Nova Scotia in the east, causing flooding of roads. About 20,000 subscribers remained without electricity in the region at midday yesterday (Saturday).
Afghanistan
The death toll from the floods that occurred in Afghanistan as a result of heavy rains has risen to 31, including 26 who died in the center of the country, according to what the authorities announced today (Sunday).
Source: aawsat