List of the 10 most severe heat waves in the world, with victims exceeding 70 thousand people

Weather of Arabia - year after year, the number of heat waves affecting various parts of the world increases, so that temperatures rise dramatically and reach dangerous levels that may affect human health and public life, and temperatures may reach record numbers, and the reasons for the formation of heat waves vary, as the reason may be The phenomenon of global warming, the expansion of the ozone hole, the increase in pollution, and the occurrence of solar contrast.

What is a heat wave?

List of the 10 worst heat waves in the world:

• European heat wave - 2003 - Number of victims: 70,000 people
• Russian heat wave - 2010 - Number of victims: 56,000 people
• North American heat wave - 1988 - Number of victims: 10,000 people
• American heat wave - 1980 - Number of victims: 10,000 people
• Heat wave east of the United States - 1901 - Number of victims: 9,500 people
• Indian heat wave - 2015 - Number of victims: 2,500 people
• Pakistani heat wave - 2015 - Number of victims: 2,000 people
• Northeast American heat wave - 1896 - Number of victims: 1,500 people
• Greek heat wave - 1987 - Number of victims: 1,500 people
• Indian heat wave - 2002 - Number of victims: 1,200 people

The European Heat Wave 2003: A Historic Disaster

In 2003, Europe witnessed a strong heat wave, considered one of the worst heat waves in modern history. The number of victims of this catastrophe exceeded the horrific number of at least 70,000 people. It is reported that this wave was one of the hottest waves to hit the European continent for at least five centuries.

Temperatures in some European regions have risen to over 46°C, which are record levels for Europe. France suffered heavy losses, with 14,000 deaths recorded.

In Portugal, the number of deaths caused by the heat wave reached 2039 deaths. In the Netherlands, the number of deaths reached 1,500, and it is reported that temperatures reached record levels even at night.

The population was unable to adapt to the high temperature, and the countries incurred huge losses due to this disaster, exceeding the deaths to billions of dollars at the continental level. The cause of this catastrophe is due to the sudden and unexpected global climate change.

Because of that catastrophe, the aforementioned countries were subjected to many cases of chaos and dispersion. Many people were exposed to diseases, which led to the opening of many health centers to provide the necessary care for patients.

Since the month of August witnesses many holidays and vacations, it was not possible to bury all the bodies at that time due to the large number of victims. Therefore, a refrigerated warehouse outside Paris was used to bury the bodies, with undertakers carrying out the task.

There was not enough space to bury this many bodies, and even on the 3rd of September, the number of bodies increased by at least 57 bodies. Claims were made to bury these bodies by the people, so as not to cause more disasters.

Russian heat wave 2010:

In 2010, Russia experienced a severe heatwave with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius or more. This wave was one of the worst heat waves to hit the region, and the residents did not expect such a high temperature.

The sudden rise in temperature caused the destruction of some agricultural crops and the entire stock, and forests were also damaged by this heat wave. Smoke inhalation from fires caused by the intense heat was also a major cause of a large number of casualties.

What is surprising is that the causes were not the result of climatic changes, as was thought in previous heat waves. Despite this, research and scientists warn that the region may experience another, more dangerous heat wave in the future.

Precautionary measures have been taken by the concerned authorities in Russia and Northern European countries in anticipation of a similar heat wave in the future. Measures and precautions have been taken to protect citizens and ensure their safety and not expose them to danger that may threaten their lives.

The government made sure to provide instructions and warnings to citizens on how to behave in extreme heat. Additional resources have been provided for health care and emergency, and efforts have been intensified to ensure the availability of clean water and shaded places for citizens during the heat wave period.

Projections indicate that ongoing climate changes may make extreme heat waves more frequent and intense in the future. Therefore, early warnings and preventive measures become necessary to deal with these devastating natural phenomena and to preserve the safety of people and their property.

1988 North American Heat Wave: Warnings and Great Losses

In 1988, North America experienced one of the worst heat waves in its history. The events began when the temperatures rose suddenly that year. As a result, the lives of about ten thousand people were lost.

After that, the responsible authorities in the region took precautionary measures to be prepared for the coming times. However, the heat wave repeated again a few years later, resulting in more casualties.

Various regions in the country have suffered heavy losses and damages due to this heat wave. It took a long time to repair the damage and restore the normal state. Significant resources have been allocated to deal with the situation and to rebuild the affected areas.

This disaster was a reminder to the concerned authorities of the importance of taking preventive measures and being well prepared to face severe heat waves in the future. Preventive measures include early awareness, warning the population, providing shaded places, cooling centers and necessary health care.

It is also important for governments and public institutions to focus on strategies for adapting societies to climate changes and developing appropriate infrastructure to deal with such extreme natural phenomena. These efforts should also include raising awareness of the importance of preserving water resources and environmental sustainability to reduce the impact of heat waves on human life and the environment.

American Heat Wave - 1980: Drought and Losses

In 1980, the United States experienced one of the most severe heat waves in its history. The temperature rose suddenly, exacerbating the drought in the country. The Midwest and Southern coasts were hit hardest during the summer that year.

This condition caused about 1,700 people to fall due to dehydration. Agricultural lands were also severely damaged, causing financial losses estimated at US$20 billion.

The heatwave started in June and will last until September. Temperatures rose to 90 °F (32 °C) in the central and southern United States due to high ridge pressure in the region.

As a result of the high pressure and its effect on the atmosphere, the development of thunderstorms is prevented. However, the region experienced severe drought as a result of the unusually high temperatures. Later, a tornado formed, known as Hurricane Rotten Allen, which distorted the weather pattern prevailing in the country.

In the northern rim, strong storms and sharp winds that lasted for long periods were witnessed. These storms killed 6 people and injured 70 people as a result of its strong impact.

This heat wave reminds us of the importance of adopting strategies to confront climate changes and reduce the effects of high temperatures. Efforts should focus on promoting awareness and preventive measures to protect the population and mitigate potential losses that future extreme heat waves could cause.

Eastern US heat wave 1901:

In 1901, the United States experienced a strong heat wave, especially in the eastern region. The temperatures rose dramatically, causing a visible impact on the east coast of the country.

Much of America's land has been drying up during this heat wave. Statistics indicate that the number of deaths resulting from this accident has reached at least 9,500 people.

Not only was the negative impact on humans, but the wave also caused the death of a large number of horses. For example, in New York alone, nearly 250 horses died in just one day.

This heat wave serves as a reminder of the dangerous effects extreme weather can cause. It highlights the importance of developing procedures and strategies to confront heat waves and reduce potential losses of lives and property. There should be an emphasis on promoting public awareness about personal safety and taking precautionary measures to protect people and animals during periods of extreme heat.

Indian heat wave - 2015: 1,000 deaths and devastating impact

In April and May of 2015, India experienced one of the worst heat waves in history. During that heat wave, an estimated 1,118 people fell, according to statistics released on May 26.

By 29 May, the death toll had risen to about 1,700 dead. The Meteorological Department of India announced that the temperature reached 45 degrees Celsius. Andhra Pradesh was one of the regions hardest hit by the heat wave, with 551 people dying as a result of the sudden and persistent rise in temperature that reached 47 degrees Celsius.

The competent authorities responded by mobilizing hospitals to provide the necessary medical care to the victims. The authorities advised residents to stay at home to protect themselves. Streets were evacuated in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh state, and there were no pedestrians on the streets due to the sweltering heat.

The regions affected by the heat wave included Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Gujarat, in addition to Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Karnataka. This wave caused the deaths of at least 2,500 people.

The heat wave in India reminds us of the importance of raising awareness about the devastating impact of extreme heat and the need to take preventive measures to protect people from exposure to extreme heat, including providing necessary healthcare to those affected and strengthening infrastructure to deal with heat-related emergencies.

Pakistan heat wave - 2015: a thermal disaster that leads to many deaths

In June 2015, Pakistan experienced one of the worst heatwaves in its history. The temperatures soared devastatingly, resulting in some 1,300 deaths by 27 June. Many regions were affected, including Sindh, Balochistan and southern Punjab.

On 23 June, the death toll rose to 7,700 in most of the Karachi region alone. It must be mentioned that this heat wave coincided with the month of Ramadan. In addition to the heavy human toll, the country experienced constant power outages.

It should be noted that this heat wave is not the first of its kind in Pakistan, as similar heat waves occurred in 1979.

The reasons for the occurrence of this heat wave are due to the climatic changes that the country was exposed to unexpectedly, in addition to the increase in the desert and the rapid urban development that the country was exposed to. Many natural spaces have been exploited and converted into asphalt spaces, which has led to a significant increase in temperatures.

That heat disaster in Pakistan reminds us of the importance of climate change awareness and the need to take measures to adapt to climate changes and protect the population from the dangers of extreme heat, including improving infrastructure, providing medical services, and public awareness of heat stress symptoms and prevention.

The Northeast American Heat Wave - 1896: A Thermal Tragedy

In 1896, Northeast America was hit by an unusually strong heat wave. That wave lasted for at least ten days, and included cities like New York, Boston, Newark, and Chicago.

Although short in duration, the heat wave resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,500 people at least. It should be noted that the climate in that region is usually characterized by high humidity and a gentle breeze. Therefore, it was not expected that a severe heat wave would hit the region in this way.

The temperature during the heatwave reached 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) overnight. Local authorities took precautionary measures to address the situation, including adjusting shifts for workers to avoid working during the hottest days.

Frozen ice was also placed at some local police stations, near which workers could rest to avoid harm or loss of life. In addition, the New York State Parks Department allowed people to sleep in parks at night to avoid the sweltering heat.

This heat wave is remembered in history as one of the severe thermal disasters that the region was exposed to, which confirms the importance of raising awareness of climate change and taking measures to adapt to extreme weather conditions and protect the population from the danger of extreme heat.

Greek heat wave 1987:

The Greek heat wave in 1987 was one of the worst heat waves to hit the country. Temperatures reached record highs of up to 45 degrees Celsius in some areas. The Greek Prime Minister warned at the time of the danger of that wave.

Many people were affected by the extreme heat, and at least about 1,500 people died from that heat wave. The high temperature caused power outages and the air conditioners could not be used effectively, which also resulted in air pollution.

The country's electricity grid was under tremendous pressure, and some fires broke out in the Greek forests, causing the death of many people who were near those forests. The fires were particularly concentrated in the island of Rhodes and northwest of the Peloponnese peninsula.

The authorities indicate that this heat wave has exceeded normal climatic changes and turned into a climate threat that threatens human life. This wave is an example of the negative impact of extreme climate change and reminds us of the importance of adopting sustainable strategies to adapt to such extreme conditions and protect the population.

Indian heat wave in 2002:

A severe heat wave was hitting India. This wave caused great losses and damaged many areas in the country. According to statistics, the number of deaths as a result of that wave amounted to about 1,200 people.