Thousands Endure Heat Stroke in Pakistan's Sweltering Climate
In Pakistan, sweltering temperatures of up to 50 degrees have caused a surge in emergency cases, with thousands of people admitted to hospitals for heatstroke, as confirmed last Friday. The country has been experiencing extreme heat since the early part of the week, and the heatwave is expected to last for another week, according to climate change commissioner Romina Alam. Pakistan's chief meteorologist, Sardar Sarfraz, predicts the temperature may reach 51 degrees on Saturday.
"It's like stepping onto a bed of hot coals when you go outside in the sun. It feels like you're in hell," said Zeeshan Khan Shani, a rickshaw driver from Dadu, located in the southern province of Sindh. Schools were temporarily closed due to the unbearable heat, as officials noted temperatures of around eight degrees Celsius higher than normal for this time of year, which they attributed to climate change.
Regularly, hundreds of people succumb to the effects of climate change in Pakistan, despite the nation contributing relatively little to global carbon dioxide emissions. The summer of 2022 witnessed a devastating flood catastrophe that inundated a third of the country and led to the death of 1,700 people. A study published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in April revealed that Asia is warming at a faster rate than the overall global average.
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The surge in heatstroke cases is not limited to a few individuals, with thousands of people seeking medical attention in hospitals due to the extreme temperatures in Pakistan. Despite the scorching temperatures, predicted to reach 51 degrees on Saturday, Pakistan's climate change commissioner Romina Alam warns of an extended heatwave. The sweltering climate in Pakistan has been linked to climate change, causing anomalies in temperatures that are higher than usual, leading to health concerns like heat stroke.
Source: www.ntv.de
