Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Record-breaking heat: Turkey has hit a new national temperature record of 50.5°C, with the relentless heatwave fuelling wildfires and water shortages across the region
Credit : VladisChern, Shutterstock
Think of those in the southeast of Turkey if you felt your car was like an oven during this summer. On Friday, July,25, the small town of Silopi suddenly shot to fame for all the wrong reasons: the thermometer there hit an astonishing 50.5°C. That’s not a typo—fifty point five. Officially, this is the hottest ever day in the United States.
The locals are making jokes about being able to fry an egg in the pavement but nobody is actually laughing. When 40°C starts to feel “quite pleasant”, you know you’re living through a summer that’ll go down in the history books.
Extreme heat in Turkey – When temperatures reach dangerous levels
It’s not just about sweaty T shirts and faulty air conditioning. Wildfires are raging all over due to the high temperatures. In the north, in Karabük, flames have been raging for days and entire villages have had to evacuate. Not only is property in danger. Ten firefighters and volunteers died last Wednesday in Eskisehir while battling an especially nasty fire. Sobering stuff.
There’s also the water. In seaside Cesme, officials have announced that water’s being switched off overnight—no taps, no showers—from 11pm till 6am. Pack extra water if you plan to take a midnight swim while on vacation.
Why? Here comes the C-word…
Climate change is real. Scientists have been warning that southern Europe has been heating up rapidly for years, and Turkey, quite literally, is feeling the heat. A UN-backed study claims that 88% of Turkey is at risk of becoming desert. It’s not just a distant “maybe”. Farmers, holidaymakers and firefighters are currently dealing with this issue.
Heatwave in Greece, neighbours also face record temperatures
Not just Turkey. The same situation is happening in Greece, with wildfires, water shortages and residents wondering what has happened to their weather. This heatwave is not bound by borders.
What can you possibly do? It’s survival tactics if you’re visiting Turkey: Drink more water than you think, avoid the sun during the day and watch local news updates (and the water supply!). If you plan to visit Turkey in the summer, make sure you bring your strongest sunscreen.
We all hope for a cooling down soon. Hats off to all the brave people who have been fighting the fires in their communities and protecting them. 2025 could be the summer of a lifetime.
