An unprecedented late heatwave has pushed temperatures in several Iranian cities to record highs, with Ahvaz in the southwestern province of Khuzestan registering as one of the world's hottest spots, state power company Tavanir reported on June 21.

Three Iranian cities - Ahvaz, Omidiyeh, and Abadan - have recorded temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), prompting authorities to close government offices in Ahvaz.

Over the Western weekend—a working day in Iran— those temperatures are expected to stay above 50 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists in Iran admitted that the extreme weather events are causing broader patterns of climate change, resulting in more frequent and severe heatwaves across the country.

The extreme heat is expected to spread to Tehran and northern parts of the country, raising concerns about power supply stability.

Officials have urged citizens to manage their electricity consumption to ensure a steady power supply nationwide.

Mohammad Sabzezari, Director-General of Khuzestan's Meteorological Department, told the ISNA news agency that the heatwave is forecast to persist until early next week.

"Most areas in Khuzestan, except for the eastern and northern highlands, will experience maximum temperatures of 49 degrees Celsius or higher until June 23," Sabzezari added.

He noted that coastal areas in the Gulf would face increased humidity levels, exacerbating the discomfort from the heat.

In response to the extreme weather, Mohammad Khanchi, Deputy Governor of Khuzestan for Development Affairs, announced reduced working hours for government offices.

"Due to the meteorological red alert for temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius, government offices will operate from 6 AM to 11 AM on Saturday and Sunday, with employees working remotely for the remainder of their shifts," Khanchi said.

Turkey and Iraq on fire

Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, is also facing temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius, causing power cuts and increasing numbers of people headed to hospital, INA reported.

Several reports from the north of Baghdad have reported that fires have broken out in several pastoral areas of the country, and fire crews are dealing with increasing wildfires, local social media reported on June 21. 

The Iraqi Meteorological Office said on June 22 that the heat wave would reach its peak and may reach above 50 degrees Celsius in the middle of Euphrates and Baghdad due to calm winds.

Further west, Turkish authorities are currently fighting wildfires. Forest fires broke out in villages in southeastern Turkey during the night on June 20, leaving behind 5 dead and dozens injured in a horrific toll drawn by the brutal flames.

The Turkish Ministry of Health confirmed, through its Minister Fahrettin Koca, the death of 5 people and the injury of 44 others, 10 of whom were in serious condition, as a result of the fires that swept through two areas near the city of Mardin.

Footage of the massive fire was also circulated on social media, as flames lit up the night sky while thick clouds of smoke rose, creating a tragic picture that reflects the scale of the disaster.

Hajj becomes deadly as temperatures spike

The regional heatwave has reportedly killed more than 1,000 people in Saudi Arabia on the annual Hajj pilgrimage this week.

Reports from newspapers in several Muslim countries report that hundreds of people have been reported dead, with hundreds more missing, during this year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, as temperatures soar beyond 50 degrees Celsius on most days. The temperature hit 51.9 degrees Celsius in Mecca on June 19. 

Shocking videos circulating on social media show dozens of dead bodies dumped on the side of the road in areas believed to be around Mecca. Other videos show dozens of bodies wrapped in caffans (Islamic shrouds) being despatched by Mecca authorities.

Meanwhile, further south, the long heat wave sweeping across large areas of India has claimed more lives, with 143 deaths recorded and 41,789 people believed to be suffering from heatstroke during the period from the beginning of March until June 20 of this year.

Despite these announced numbers, the death toll is expected to be much higher given that Indian states have not provided regular updates to the data collected by the National Center for Disease Control. The Press Trust of India indicated that many health facilities had not uploaded data on the number of heat wave victims to computers.

As bne IntelliNews reported in February, climate alarm bells were already ringing loudly as planet entered uncharted territory in 2024, but now the feared problems are making themselves manifest in the form of roasting heatwaves coming far too early in the year.