Rescuers evacuate 50,000 as Turkey battles wildfires
Rescuers in Turkey have evacuated more than 50,000 people, mostly from the western province of Izmir, as firefighters battled a string of wildfires, the AFAD disaster agency said Monday.
The worst blaze began Sunday in Seferihisar, a forested area 50 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of the resort city of Izmir, spreading rapidly with winds of up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour, officials said.
"A total of over 50,000 citizens from 41 settlements have been temporarily relocated to safe areas," AFAD wrote on X, saying 79 people had been affected by smoke and other fire-related issues, none seriously.
Meanwhile, the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday hit its warmest temperature on record for June at 26.01 degrees Celsius, said a French weather service scientist, citing data from EU monitor Copernicus.
"We have never measured such a high daily temperature in June, averaged over the basin, as Sunday," said Thibault Guinaldo, a researcher at the Centre for Satellite Meteorology Studies under Meteo-France.
At present, sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean are 3C higher than average for the same period compared to 1991-2020, with spikes exceeding 4C around the French and Spanish coasts, he added.
"Given the week we're going to have in terms of weather conditions, unfortunately it's not going to get any cooler", Guinaldo said.
It comes as Europe swelters through summer's first major heatwave, with Spain and Portugal setting new temperature highs on Monday as France, Italy and Britain also sizzled.
Spain and Portugal reported record temperatures as Italy and France braced for several more days of a punishing heatwave that has gripped southern Europe and Britain, sparking health and wildfire warnings
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Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Another monsoon wave to hit this week
A laborer carries sacks of onions while wading through a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in Lahore on July 16, 2025. Photo: AFP Listen to article The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday forecast a fresh spell of widespread rain, wind, and thundershowers across most parts of the country in the coming days, with monsoon activity expected to intensify from August 17. According to the Met Office, monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously penetrating the upper parts of the country, while moist currents from the Bay of Bengal are likely to strengthen midweek. A westerly wave affecting the region is also expected to intensify from August 17. Under these conditions, rain, wind, and thundershowers with scattered heavy falls are expected in Islamabad, Kashmir, upper Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) from August 14 to 17. The wet spell will persist from August 18 to 21 in several northern areas, including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, and districts of G-B. From August 18 to 21, widespread rains are expected in K-P, with heavy to very heavy falls likely in Dir, Swat, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, and Mardan. Southern districts — Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan — will also experience showers with occasional heavy spells. Punjab, including Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Faisalabad, is likely to receive heavy rains from August 18 to 21, with scattered activity in southern districts, according to the PMD. Parts of Balochistan, including Barkhan, Zhob, Khuzdar, Gwadar, and Panjgur, as well as several Sindh districts such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, and Tharparkar, are also expected to see showers between August 18 and 22. GLOF alert In view of the forecast, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of K-P issued a Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) alert, warning of possible flooding in glaciated areas of the province. The PDMA cautioned that heavy and intermittent rains could cause glacial lakes to burst in vulnerable northern districts, including Upper and Lower Chitral, Dir, Swat, and Upper Kohistan. The PDMA has also warned of landslides and flash floods in local streams and nullahs in these areas, advising the public to avoid unnecessary movement near water channels and to refrain from driving vehicles through fast-flowing streams. The National Highway Authority (NHA), Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), and the Communication and Works Department have been instructed to remain on standby for road clearance and other emergency measures. The PDMA has also launched a public awareness campaign to inform residents about precautionary measures, while its Emergency Operation Centre remains fully operational. Citizens can report incidents or seek information through the helpline 1700. Flooding and landslides risk The PMD cautioned that heavy rains may trigger flash floods in K-P, Murree, Galliyat, northeast Punjab, and Kashmir from August 15 to 21, as well as hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and eastern Balochistan from August 18 to 21. Urban flooding is anticipated in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Peshawar, and Nowshera during this period. Landslides and mudslides may disrupt roads in hilly areas of K-P, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir, while heavy falls, windstorms, and lightning could damage weak structures, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels. 'All concerned are advised to remain alert and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation,' the PMD said. The public, travellers, and tourists have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable areas and remain updated on the latest weather conditions. Death toll rises At least 312 people, including 142 children, have died and 740 others have been injured in flash floods and torrential rains since late June, according to updated data from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The fatalities include 113 men, 57 women, and 142 children, while the injured comprise 243 children, 209 women, and 288 men. The NDMA said the deluges, which began on June 26, have left a trail of destruction across the country. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Punjab on river flood alert
High water level threatens the bridge over the Chenab river in Sialkot. The PDMA has issued a red alert to all government agencies and departments to take precautionary measures to avert losses. PHOTO: PPI The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has warned of potential flooding in the province's rivers following heavy rains in upper catchment areas and possible release of water into the Sutlej River by India in the next two days. According to PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, an unusual rise in water levels has been recorded in Indian dams, with Bhakra Dam at 61 per cent, Pong Dam at 76 per cent and Thein Dam at 64 per cent of capacity. The Punjab PDMA, along with the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and the irrigation department, is monitoring the river and dam conditions round the clock. The levels at Ganda Singh in the Sutlej River have returned to normal from low flood levels, but the risk of increase remains. Medium- to high-level flooding alerts have been issued for Marala, Khanki, and Qadirabad in the Chenab River. The DG has directed the divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and all relevant departments to remain on high alert. Residents of riverine areas have been urged to immediately relocate to safe places and cooperate with the administration in case of emergency evacuations. The public has been advised to take precautionary measures, avoid bathing in rivers, canals, streams and ponds, and refrain from unnecessary crossings or picnics near rivers in flood conditions. Children should be kept away from waterways at all times. For emergencies, citizens can contact the PDMA helpline 1129. Meanwhile, scattered showers accompanied by humid conditions were witnessed in Lahore on Tuesday, with the Met Office forecasting similar weather over the next 24 hours. Rain began early morning and continued intermittently until the evening in several localities. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) instructed the staff to remain on high alert and ensure prompt clearance of rainwater from roads. According to Meteorological Department officials, a seasonal low persists over north Balochistan, while moist currents from the Arabian Sea are penetrating the upper parts of the country. They predicted that hot and humid weather would prevail in most plain areas, though partly cloudy skies with rain, wind or thundershowers are expected at isolated locations in northeast Punjab, the Pothohar region, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Rain was also recorded in Kotli, Garhi Dopatta, Muzaffarabad, Malam Jabba, Kakul, Sialkot, Murree, Narowal, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Babusar. The highest temperature recorded in Lahore on Tuesday was 38 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the water discharge at River Chenab, Marala Headworks, reached 142,216 cusecs, marking a medium-level flood. At Manawar Tawi, Surkhpur, the discharge is 9,636 cusecs, with conditions reported as normal. Nullah Dek at Kingra is flowing at 22,545 cusecs, indicating a medium-level flood, while at the super passage the discharge is 14,511 cusecs, considered a low-level flood. In a related incident, the Hanjliwala Bridge on Nullah Dek along the Chawinda-Zafarwal Road, located in Narowal district, collapsed in the morning due to heavy water pressure. District authorities placed all departments on high alert to deal with any potential flooding situation. The district control room remains operational 24 hours a day.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Power restored across Iraq after nationwide outage
An Iraqi man stands under an electricity transmission tower south of the city of Hillah on August 10, 2025. © Ahmad Al-Rubaye. PHOTO: AFP Electricity supply returned to all Iraq's provinces on Tuesday, a government official told AFP, expecting the grid's full recovery within a day after a nationwide power outage. Electricity shortages are a frequent complaint in Iraq, suffering from endemic corruption and dilapidated public infrastructure. Most households rely on private generators, acquired to compensate for daily power cuts to public electricity. On Monday, the electricity ministry said that "a record rise in temperatures" coupled with a surge in demand resulted in the shutdown of transmission lines, which then led to a total outage. Read More: Iraq chlorine gas leaves 600 pilgrims hospitalised A senior ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Tuesday that "since midnight, all provinces have seen the return" of power supply. The official cautioned that "it is happening gradually", with the central province of Karbala, where millions of Shiite Muslim pilgrims were expected for a major religious commemoration, being "the first to recover its electricity". In the capital Baghdad, the grid was back to 95 percent of its normal capacity, said the official. The outage came amid a heatwave that Iraqi meteorological services expect to last more than a week, with temperatures climbing as high as 50C in parts of the country. Also Read: Power plant shutdown triggers blackout across central, southern Iraq While the vast majority of Iraqis rely on private generators, they often cannot power all household appliances, especially air conditioners. Iraq is sometimes rocked by protests when outages worsen in the hot summer months. To avoid outages during peak demand, Iraq would need to produce around 55,000 megawatts of electricity. This month, for the first time, the country's power plants reached the 28,000-megawatt threshold. The electricity ministry official said that "the system has returned to normal and is stable", producing 24,000 megawatts and expected to reach 27,000 once the final malfunctions related to Monday's outage are resolved.
