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Turkey, which has been battling frequent wildfires this summer, emerged as one of the countries most severely affected by the escalating climate crisis after recording its highest-ever temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius (122.9 Fahrenheit) in July, during what scientists say was the third-warmest July globally since records began.
While the series of record-breaking global temperatures paused last month, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service warned Thursday that the impact of global warming continues to be deeply felt in many areas including Turkey, where raging wildfires have claimed the lives of at least 17 people and scorched thousands of hectares of land since the beginning of summer.
The historic heat in Turkey pushed the mercury beyond the 50-degree mark for the first time.
A reading of 50.5 degrees Celsius (122.9 Fahrenheit) was recorded on July 25 in Silopi, a town in the southeastern province of Şırnak, marking the highest temperature in the country’s history.
It surpassed the previous national record of 50.0 degrees Celsius set in Hassa, Hatay, in southern Turkey in August 2023. The extreme heat was part of an unprecedented Mediterranean heat wave that shattered hundreds of local temperature records across Turkey and the broader region. Silopi is located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Iraqi border.
The soaring temperatures intensified wildfires that swept across southern and western provinces. Driven by drought and strong winds, the fires destroyed homes, forced evacuations and overwhelmed firefighting efforts.
The death toll was at least 17, with many more injured or displaced. Emergency services struggled to contain the blazes as temperatures soared and dry vegetation turned vast areas into tinderboxes.
Wildfires are a frequent and troubling occurrence during Turkey’s summer months as the weather becomes hotter and drier. Each year the government faces criticism for its inadequate response and lack of preparedness. One of the worst cases was the summer of 2021, when 137 fires raged across 30 provinces. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government faced accusations of mismanagement and lack of preparation after admitting the country has no serviceable firefighting planes.
Climate extremes persist despite slight global dip
Globally, July 2025 was around 1.25°C warmer than the pre-industrial average, a slight dip compared to the record-shattering years of 2023 and 2024. Despite this, extreme weather events were widespread and deadly, a clear reminder that the climate crisis is not abating.
“We continue to witness the effects of a warming world,” said Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus. “Even a modest increase above historical averages is enough to intensify disasters like heatwaves, wildfires and floods.”
In addition to Turkey’s deadly fires, extreme rains killed hundreds in China and Pakistan, while parts of Europe suffered record droughts. Eleven countries , including China, Japan and North Korea, recorded their hottest July in at least half a century.
Oceans and ice under siege
The heat wasn’t confined to land. Sea surface temperatures in July were the third-highest ever recorded, with local records shattered in parts of the North Atlantic and North Sea. Arctic sea ice was 10 percent below the long-term average, while Antarctic Sea ice extent was the third lowest on record for July.
These changes in ocean and ice patterns are not just statistical; they fuel weather extremes by disrupting atmospheric and marine systems. Scientists warn that 90 percent of the excess heat from global warming is absorbed by the oceans, which continue to show signs of long-term warming.
Urgency to cut emissions
The primary driver of rising temperatures, the burning of fossil fuels, remains largely unchecked. Scientists stress that without urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the world can expect more record-breaking heat and worsening disasters.
“Unless we rapidly stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations, we should expect not only new temperature records but also a worsening of impacts,” Buontempo cautioned.
© Agence France-Presse with Turkish Minute