A record-breaking temperature of 50.5°C was recorded in south-eastern Turkey on Friday, marking the highest ever in the country, officials announced on Saturday.
According to data from the General Directorate of Meteorology, the temperature hit 50.5°C in Silopi on 25th July, tweeted the Turkish Ministry of Environment. Authorities noted that 132 weather stations across the country reported record high temperatures for July, though they did not specify the historical range of meteorological data.
Silopi is located in the Sirnak province, less than 10 km from the Iraqi and Syrian borders. The previous national record was 49.5°C, set in August 2023 in the province of Eskisehir in the west.
Turkey is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, leading to wildfires in several regions. One fire in Karabük province, in the north, has eluded firefighters for four days, forcing several villages to evacuate.
On Wednesday, ten forestry workers and volunteer rescuers tragically lost their lives combating a fierce forest fire in Eskisehir province.
The ongoing heatwave, affecting much of the country and expected to continue in the coming days, has raised fears of water shortages. The resort town of Cesme, near Izmir in the west, has announced a water cut-off from 23:00 to 6:00 starting Saturday night.
An UN report released in early July cites a study indicating that 88% of Turkey’s land is at high risk of desertification.
