Fatigued Afghan taxi drivers take novel approach to AC
In Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan, where temperatures easily exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), blue taxis can be spotted with an air conditioning unit strapped to the roof, with an exhaust hose delivering the cool air through the passenger window.
"It started getting extremely hot three or four years ago. These cars' AC systems didn't work, and repairs were too expensive. So I went to a technician and had a custom cooler made," said driver Gul Mohammad.
The 32-year-old spent 3,000 Afghanis (US$43) for the system, which he connects to his taxi's battery and regularly refills with water.
"This works better than built-in AC. ACs only cool the front — this cooler spreads air throughout," said fellow driver Abdul Bari.
Other devices are connected to solar panels, also mounted on the taxi's roof.
Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, is also one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
It is particularly affected by heatwaves and is suffering from increased drought.
Murtaza, a 21-year-old technician, said that demand from taxi drivers has been growing over the past two or three years.
"Many cars weren't equipped with air conditioning anyway, which is why we're installing these," he told AFP in his small shop in central Kandahar.
Afghan cities are often saturated with ageing vehicles, which are enjoying a last-ditch life after being transferred from neighbouring countries.
"When there's no cooler, it becomes very difficult," said Norullah, a 19-year-old passenger who did not provide a last name, his face inches from the blast of cold air.
"These drivers are helping solve the problem, and that's great."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
7.3-magnitude earthquake hits Alaska, tsunami warning withdrawn
LOS ANGELES: A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska, prompting a tsunami warning that was later canceled. The tremor occurred at approximately 12:37 local time, with its epicenter located 54 miles south of Sand Point. The US Geological Survey reported the quake had a shallow depth of 12.5 miles. Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula but later downgraded it to an advisory before withdrawing it entirely. 'The Tsunami Advisory is canceled for the coastal areas of South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula,' said the National Tsunami Warning Center. A minor tsunami wave of 0.2 feet was recorded at Sand Point. The earthquake was followed by multiple aftershocks, the strongest measuring 5.2 in magnitude. Residents were advised to remain cautious. 'Do not re-occupy hazard zones until local emergency officials indicate it is safe to do so,' the NTWC warned. Alaska, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to seismic activity. The state experienced a devastating 9.2-magnitude quake in 1964, the strongest in North American history. More recently, a 7.2-magnitude tremor in 2023 caused no major damage - AFP
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Roundup: Heatwave grips Egypt, prompts widespread warnings
CAIRO, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Egypt is experiencing an exceptional heatwave, with high temperatures and humidity posing significant risks to public health and impacting key sectors such as agriculture and industry. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority said Wednesday's temperatures on the northern coasts range from 31 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees, in Greater Cairo from 37 degrees to 38 degrees, and in the southern region from 40 degrees to 44 degrees. The severe heat is expected to persist in the coming days, with both daytime and nighttime temperatures forecast to rise by up to 3 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages, according to Director of Analysis and Forecasts at the Egyptian Meteorological Authority Mahmoud Shahin. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY Ibrahim Darwish, professor of Agriculture at Menoufia University, said that rising temperatures pose a serious challenge to food and water security in agricultural countries. He told Xinhua that high temperatures lead to a decrease in agricultural productivity due to their negative impact on photosynthesis, respiration, and biosynthesis within plants. Darwish noted that the heatwave is likely to alter planting and ripening times, as high temperatures accelerate the plant's life cycle, leading to premature and incomplete ripening, which in turn prevents sufficient dry matter formation, especially in grains. Darwish added that the heatwave may also increase the incidence of insect pests and plant diseases, damage plant tissues, and inhibit root development. Crops require more water to compensate for these effects, reducing water-use efficiency and increasing strain on water resources, he added. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY Engineer Ahmed Abdel-Rashid, a factory manager for air conditioners at Haier Egypt Environmental Complex, said high temperatures will result in a decrease in work efficiency and raise the risk of workplace accidents. Abdel-Rashid pointed out that the heatwave will also lead to higher electricity consumption due to increased reliance on cooling systems, and raise the risk of breakdowns in heat-sensitive machinery, potentially leading to production delays or shutdowns. However, Abdel-Rashid pointed out potential upsides, including improved solar energy output from increased solar radiation. The heatwave may also spur demand for air conditioners, fans, and insulation materials -- boosting local markets and creating opportunities for innovation in sustainable cooling technologies and energy-efficient building solutions. PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS Magdy Badran, a member of the Egyptian Society of Allergy and Immunology, said among the most significant negative health impacts citizens may experience during the current heatwave are heat stress and heatstroke. "These are among the most common health risks in hot weather, resulting from the body losing large amounts of water and salts due to excessive sweating, leading to dizziness, headache, nausea, and general fatigue. If not promptly addressed, the condition can escalate to heatstroke," he told Xinhua. He added that the exacerbation of chronic diseases is a common outcome of continuous exposure to high temperatures, noting that heart patients may experience an increased burden due to fluid loss and sudden drops in blood pressure. "Respiratory patients, such as those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, may face greater difficulty breathing due to increased humidity or heat-related air pollution. Similarly, patients with high blood pressure are susceptible to severe drops in blood pressure due to excessive sweating," Bardan warned.
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- New Straits Times
German Wellbrock wins world 10km swim after water quality delay
SINGAPORE: Germany's Florian Wellbrock won the men's open water 10km at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore today, after the race had been postponed for several hours because of poor water quality. Wellbrock, the gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, won his third open water world title in a time of 1hr 59min 55.50sec at the Sentosa Island course when the race eventually began at 1:00pm. Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri took silver 3.70sec adrift, followed by Australia's Kyle Lee in bronze. "It was really tough today. I think it was the warmest waters that we've had to race in," said Wellbrock of the sea temperature, which was around 30 degrees Celsius. "I had one year to prepare for this. We did a lot of heat training and I think that was the key today to me taking the gold." Governing body World Aquatics delayed the race because water quality was "exceeding acceptable thresholds." The women's 10km race had already been postponed on Tuesday and moved to today. When it did finally get under way at 4:00pm, Moesha Johnson added world championship gold to the silver medal she won at the Paris Olympics last year. The Australian came home first in 2hr 7min 51.30sec, finishing ahead again of Paris Olympics bronze medallist Ginevra Taddeucci of Italy (2:07:59.70). Lisa Pou of Monaco (2:07:57.50), who was 18th in the Paris Olympics last summer, came in third for a surprise bronze medal. World Aquatics said early this morning that the new afternoon time slots for the races were "subject to acceptable test results." But soon after, they confirmed both races would proceed in the afternoon as further analysis had found "significant improvement" in bacterial content and water temperature. "Regular water quality monitoring and testing continues throughout the competition period to ensure athlete safety," World Aquatics said in a statement. "The health and safety of all participants continues to guide all competition-related decisions." The governing body said levels of E. coli bacteria had dropped to between the ranges of "good" and "excellent", according to World Aquatics and World Health Organisation regulations. Water quality was a big problem for events held in the River Seine at last year's Paris Olympics. Of the 11 days of events and training scheduled in its murky waters, only five got the green light. The river remained dogged by pollution problems despite a €1.4 billion (RM6.9 billion) upgrade to improve the Paris sewerage and water treatment system. - AFP
