ANKARA: Türkiye has endured its hottest July in more than half a century, according to the Environment Ministry, with temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels and fueling devastating wildfires.
Data from 66 of the country’s 220 weather stations showed average temperatures rising 1.9°C above previous years. The scorching month culminated in a new national record when Silopi, a city in southeastern Şırnak province near the Iraq and Syria borders, hit 50.5°C late July — surpassing the previous high of 49.5°C recorded in Eskişehir in August 2023.
The prolonged heatwave has triggered weeks of extreme weather and wildfires. In July, 14 people lost their lives fighting blazes in western Türkiye. On Friday, hundreds were evacuated from the northwestern province of Çanakkale, where the Dardanelles Strait was temporarily closed to maritime traffic as two major fires raged.
The sweltering temperatures have also raised concerns over water shortages. In the popular Aegean resort town of Çeşme, authorities have imposed nightly water restrictions from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. since July 25 for both residents and tourists.
With climate extremes intensifying across the region, Türkiye’s latest record highlights the growing urgency of climate adaptation and wildfire prevention measures.
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