Turkey’s Deadly Heatwave Continues, Breaking a 55-Year Record

The highest temperature ever recorded in the southeastern city of Silopi at the end of July was 50.5 degrees Celsius

Turkey has recorded its hottest July in 55 years.

According to the Ministry of Environment, temperatures were recorded 1.9 degrees higher on average at 66 of the country’s 220 weather stations.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the southeastern city of Silopi at the end of July was 50.5 degrees Celsius, breaking the record of 49.5 degrees set in the city of Eskişehir in August 2023.

Silopi is located in the province of Sirnak and is about 10 kilometers from the border with Iraq and Syria.

Turkey has been gripped by a severe heat wave for weeks, with forest fires raging in various areas.

Last month, 14 people lost their lives fighting fires in the western part, while two major fires in the northwestern province of Çanakkale forced hundreds of people to be evacuated to safer places on Friday and temporarily closed the busy Dardanelles Strait, a major shipping route.