The intense heat is expected to affect Iraq, Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia and desert regions of the UAE the most.
ABU DHABI: The National Center of Meteorology has forecast a fresh heatwave across the United Arab Emirates and parts of the Middle East, with temperatures expected to approach 50 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
According to the UAE’s meteorological authority, the intense heat is expected to affect Iraq, Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia and desert regions of the UAE the most.
Despite the scorching conditions, rainfall is forecast in parts of the UAE, including Fujairah and some eastern and southern regions, through Thursday. Authorities have also issued alerts for strong winds and dusty weather.
The weather agency said temperatures in Abu Dhabi’s Al Shawamekh area have already exceeded 50°C, while Kuwait is expected to record highs of around 48°C during the latest heatwave.
Earlier, France recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths during a severe heat wave that swept across the country between June 17 and July 2, according to the country’s national public health agency.
French health authorities said 5,764 excess deaths were recorded during the period, representing a 36% increase over expected mortality levels.
The agency reported that 21,674 people died from all causes during the two-week period, compared with an expected 15,910 deaths under normal conditions. Public health experts classify the difference as excess mortality associated with the heat wave.
The figures underscore the growing impact of extreme temperatures on public health. Authorities noted that the number of excess deaths recorded in just over two weeks this year exceeded the 5,722 excess deaths reported during the entire summer of the previous year.
