KUWAIT CITY/TEHRAN/ ATHENS, July 21, (Agencies): A brutal and far-reaching heatwave is scorching regions across the Middle East and Europe this week, with Kuwait, Iran, Greece, and Türkiye battling record-breaking temperatures, raging wildfires, and intensifying climate emergencies. Meteorological officials warn that these extreme conditions, driven by global climate change, could persist through the week, posing severe risks to public health, infrastructure, and energy systems. Kuwait is currently enduring some of the most extreme weather this year, with daytime temperatures soaring between 49°C and 52°C, and nighttime lows offering little relief, hovering between 32°C and 35°C.

Acting Director of the Meteorological Department, Dhirar Al- Ali, announced that the intense heat is being driven by a low-pressure system extending from the Indian monsoon, combining with a hot, dry air mass and strong, persistent northwesterly winds. “These winds are generating widespread dust storms, reducing horizontal visibility to under 1,000 meters in open areas,” Al-Ali told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). “Sea conditions remain hazardous, with wave heights frequently exceeding six feet.”

Wind speeds are forecast to increase between Tuesday and Wednesday, ranging from 15 to 60 kilometers per hour, further worsening conditions. Officials have urged residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and take precautions as the punishing heatwave continues through the end of the week. In neighboring Iran, temperatures have also climbed above 50°C in several regions, with the capital Tehran reaching at least 40°C on Sunday. The country is grappling with its hottest period of the year, prompting closures of all government offices, banks, and businesses in the capital province on Wednesday to conserve energy.

State-run media report that dam reservoirs supplying Tehran have plummeted to “their lowest levels in a century,” prompting urgent appeals from local authorities for residents to slash water use by 20%. In Borazjan, a city in southern Bushehr province, thermometers recently registered 50°C (122°F) – the highest in the nation in the past 24 hours. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani urged the public to stay indoors during midday hours, limit electricity and water consumption, and remain alert to health advisories.

Iran has announced heat-related public holidays in previous years, and the frequency of such measures is increasing as the region faces more frequent climate shocks.

Further west, Europe is also reeling from a punishing heatwave as hot air from North Africa forms a persistent heat dome over southern and southeastern Europe. Greece is experiencing its first prolonged heat event of the summer, with temperatures expected to peak at 44°C in some areas. The National Herald, a Greek daily, described the capital, Athens as “hotter than hell.” The extreme heat has triggered severe wildfires, especially on the island of Crete, where over 1,000 residents were evacuated after flames consumed forests and olive groves. Near Athens, new fires continue to creep dangerously close to populated areas. In Türkiye, 761 wildfires have erupted across the country since June 26, particularly in the western Izmir Province. The fires have claimed at least two lives and destroyed large tracts of farmland and forested areas.

Elsewhere across Europe, authorities have reported at least eight heat-related deaths in countries including Spain and Italy. Energy grids are under strain, and hospitals are reporting increased admissions due to heatstroke and dehydration. Experts say the current weather pattern is part of a broader shift driven by climate change. “We are currently under the influence of a strong high-pressure system that’s trapping hot air from northern Africa over the region,” said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization. “As we can see, it’s having a major impact on the way we live.”

The EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service has sounded the alarm, projecting that “damage to the built environment from extreme weather events is expected to increase tenfold by the end of the century.” The agency stressed the urgent need for adaptation, including changes in urban design, water management, early warning systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure. With meteorologists forecasting more dangerous temperature spikes throughout the summer, the heatwave that is currently scorching Kuwait, Iran, Greece, and beyond may be only a glimpse of what’s to come. “Adaptation is required across all sectors and governance levels,” Copernicus warned, “and actions must address both current climate impacts and protect against future risks.” As the full force of summer bears down, officials across the Middle East and Europe are racing to respond to the escalating crisis – one that scientists say the world must learn to live with, and prepare for, as the planet continues to warm.