Bahrain sounds sirens, urges citizens to stay calm
In a post on X, the ministry urged citizens and residents to stay calm, head to the nearest safe location, and avoid blocking main roads unless absolutely necessary, in order to ensure public safety and allow emergency services to operate effectively.
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Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Innovation key as world battles extreme heat
Aside from the bombs, the starvation and the disease, Palestinians struggling to survive in Gaza last week also had to handle 40 degrees Celsius-plus temperatures. They do not have the luxury of air conditioning and most do not even have shelter. Water is scarcely available and diseases rampant. But it is not just in Gaza and other war zones where extreme heat is a killer. It is now baked into the summer schedules of most countries, even in the Northern Hemisphere, as global warming sends the mercury ever upward and for longer periods. Extreme heat may be a familiar issue for many areas of the Middle East, but for most of Europe and North America it is still a new phenomenon for which countries are not prepared. Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent and many cities are short on air conditioning. The learning curve will have to be steep, as temperatures over 40 C have become all too normal in Europe. Last month was the world's third warmest July ever, with only 2023 and 2024 hotter. In 2022, more than 20,000 people died of heat-related causes in Europe. Fires have been rampant, with an increase of about 50 percent so far this year. Several European capitals, including Madrid and Athens, have been under significant threat. The wildfires in Spain, one of the most vulnerable countries, have been particularly devastating. But even in Northern Europe, where wildfires rarely used to be threatening, things are changing. As far north as Edinburgh, a major blaze occurred last week at the famous area known as Arthur's Seat. In July, Scotland endured the biggest wildfires the country had ever seen. London has been hit by several fires in recent weeks in parkland areas. Canada too has had a surge in these infernos, with 2025 being the worst year except for 2023. These fires have even affected air quality in northern US states such as Michigan, leading to bitter complaints of Canadian inaction on fires from US Republican politicians. Droughts are another consequence. Rainfall is less predictable and groundwater resources are being overextracted. Crop destruction ensues. Why is this happening? Yes, climate change is the driver. The extreme heat has dried out both vegetation and soil, making territory more fire-friendly. Yet innovative measures are being implemented, proving there are options to help mitigate these abnormal conditions. The most fascinating ones are the low-emission options that do not rely on mechanical ventilation. Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent and many cities are short on air conditioning. Chris Doyle The challenge is particularly tough in major cities, which trap heat, creating so-called urban heat islands. Wiser city authorities have been investing in green spaces and planting trees. Research has shown that areas within a 10-minute walk of a park can be 3 C cooler than those that are not. One challenge has been that lower-income areas tend to have fewer trees and less vegetation, meaning that extreme heat becomes a more lethal factor. The choice of trees also matters — authorities must use a sensible mix, including those that are more resilient to climate change. Paris has instituted about 800 'cool islands,' where people can take refuge from intense heat. Seville has provided additional awnings across the city to create more shaded areas, as well as having a target of planting 5,000 trees a year. How about New York City? It has for some years now been painting rooftops white to reflect sunlight. In areas of Los Angeles, even the streets have been coated in reflective paint, with some significant success. Other cities could do more to replace dark surfaces with white. After all, this is exactly what many Mediterranean communities have been doing for centuries, painting their houses white to keep them cool. Yet the reflective paint is costly and research is required to make its production more energy efficient. Rotterdam has focused on greening its rooftops. The Dutch city has showcased this with a 'Rooftop Walk,' where buildings are connected by bridges. In overcrowded urban settings, where additional green spaces can be tough to introduce, rooftops can provide that opportunity. Greater research should be undertaken to improve predictions of when major fires might occur. This is why it is more than unfortunate that the current US administration has cut research funding on climate science. Given that human behavioral patterns have not altered sufficiently, scientific advancement is the crucial ingredient in being able to slow down, let alone reverse, the effects of human-made climate change. The regularity and ferocity of extreme heat, fires and drought have focused authorities on taking mitigating steps. They will have to invest, be bold and learn from others. At the local level, authorities are taking it more seriously, whereas on the international stage, interstate bickering and geopolitical roadblocks have undermined attempts to advance effective climate deals and action. • Chris Doyle is director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding in London. X: @Doylech
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Pakistan expands rescue and relief efforts after floods kill over 200 in a single district
Rescue workers in northwestern Pakistan expanded relief operations Sunday after flash floods killed more than 220 people in a single district, officials said. Buner, a mountainous district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was struck by cloudbursts and torrential monsoon downpours on Friday, triggering flash floods and landslides. An emergency services spokesman in Buner, Mohammad Sohail, said more than half of the damaged roads in the district have been reopened, allowing vehicles and heavy machinery to reach isolated villages. Crews are clearing piles of rocks and mud dumped by the floods. They were using heavy machinery on Sunday to remove the rubble of collapsed homes after families reported that some of their relatives were missing. In one of the deadliest incidents, 24 people from one family died in the village of Qadar Nagar when floodwaters swept through their home on the eve of a wedding. The head of the family, Umar Khan, said he survived the floods because he was out of the house at the time. Four of his relatives have yet to be found, he added. Provincial chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur visited Buner on Saturday and announced that families of the dead will receive payments of 2 million rupees ($7,200) each. He said tents, food, and clean drinking water are being provided to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases. According to a government statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is monitoring the relief operations and has ordered faster distribution of aid, evacuation of stranded people, and intensified searches for the missing. Pakistan's disaster management authority has warned of more deluges and possible landslides between Aug. 17 and 19, urging local administrations to remain on alert. Higher-than-normal monsoon rains have lashed the country since June 26 and killed more than 600. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. In 2022, a record-breaking monsoon killed nearly 1,700 people and destroyed millions of homes. The country also suffers regular flash floods and landslides during the monsoon season, which runs from June to September, particularly in the rugged northwest, where villages are often perched on steep slopes and riverbanks. Experts climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events in South Asia. In Indian-controlled Kashmir, torrential rains triggered flash floods in two villages in Kathua district that killed at least seven people and injured five overnight, officials said. Rescue and relief operations are underway. In Kishtwar district, teams are continuing their efforts in the remote village of Chositi , looking for dozens of missing people after the area was hit by flash floods three days earlier. At least 60 were killed and some 150 injured, about 50 in critical condition, in the disaster. Thursday's floods struck during an annual Hindu pilgrimage. Authorities rescued over 300 people, while some 4,000 pilgrims were evacuated to safety.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Arab News
Pakistan expands rescue and relief efforts after floods kill over 200 in a single district
BUNER: Rescue workers in northwestern Pakistan expanded relief operations Sunday after flash floods killed more than 220 people in a single district, officials said. Buner, a mountainous district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was struck by cloudbursts and torrential monsoon downpours on Friday, triggering flash floods and landslides. An emergency services spokesman in Buner, Mohammad Sohail, said more than half of the damaged roads in the district have been reopened, allowing vehicles and heavy machinery to reach isolated villages. Crews are clearing piles of rocks and mud dumped by the floods. They were using heavy machinery on Sunday to remove the rubble of collapsed homes after families reported that some of their relatives were missing. In one of the deadliest incidents, 24 people from one family died in the village of Qadar Nagar when floodwaters swept through their home on the eve of a wedding. The head of the family, Umar Khan, said he survived the floods because he was out of the house at the time. Four of his relatives have yet to be found, he added. Provincial chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur visited Buner on Saturday and announced that families of the dead will receive payments of 2 million rupees ($7,200) each. He said tents, food, and clean drinking water are being provided to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases. According to a government statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is monitoring the relief operations and has ordered faster distribution of aid, evacuation of stranded people, and intensified searches for the missing. Pakistan's disaster management authority has warned of more deluges and possible landslides between Aug. 17 and 19, urging local administrations to remain on alert. Higher-than-normal monsoon rains have lashed the country since June 26 and killed more than 600. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. In 2022, a record-breaking monsoon killed nearly 1,700 people and destroyed millions of homes. The country also suffers regular flash floods and landslides during the monsoon season, which runs from June to September, particularly in the rugged northwest, where villages are often perched on steep slopes and riverbanks. Experts say climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events in South Asia. In Indian-controlled Kashmir, torrential rains triggered flash floods in two villages in Kathua district that killed at least seven people and injured five overnight, officials said. Rescue and relief operations are underway. In Kishtwar district, teams are continuing their efforts in the remote village of Chositi, looking for dozens of missing people after the area was hit by flash floods three days earlier. At least 60 were killed and some 150 injured, about 50 in critical condition, in the disaster. Thursday's floods struck during an annual Hindu pilgrimage. Authorities rescued over 300 people, while some 4,000 pilgrims were evacuated to safety.
