Climate change: Heatwave in Spain and Portugal claims at least 322 lives
July 16, 2022, 8:42 am

Climate change: Heatwave in Spain and Portugal claims at least 322 lives

Heatwaves often have complex effects on human economies, due to less productivity of workers, disruption of agricultural and industrial processes and damage to infrastructure not adapted for extreme heat - Photo. Pixabay

Excess temperatures brought on by the heatwave that continues to wash over Spain and Portugal have killed at least 322 people, the Anadolu Agency reported.

According to figures from the Carlos III Health Institute released on Friday (July 15), high temperatures in the first three days of the heatwave in Spain, which officially began on Sunday, killed 84 people.

The Portuguese Health Ministry reported 238 heat-induced deaths in the country on July 7-13.

Throughout the week, the mercury only kept rising on the Iberian Peninsula, contributing to fears that the final number of deaths would be significantly higher.

On Thursday, it reached 47 degrees Celcius (116.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in the town of Pinhao -- the hottest ever registered in Portugal in July.

The scorching temperatures continue and Spain's public meteorological agency does not expect the heatwave to dissipate until Monday.

The World Meteorological Organization, defines a heat wave as five or more consecutive days of prolonged heat in which the daily maximum temperature is higher than the average maximum temperature by 5 °C (9 °F) or more. However, some nations have come up with their own criteria to define a heat wave - Photo. Pixabay

In June, when one of the earliest heatwaves in recent Spanish history gripped the nation, the health institute estimates that 830 died due to the high temperatures.

The heat is also taking its toll on Spain's forests, with 32 active wildfires burning as of Friday, including 15 yet to be contained. Extremadura, a region bordering Portugal, has been the hardest hit so far, with two massive fires scorching at least 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres).

Thousands evacuated as wildfires rage in southwestern France

Portuguese firefighters are also battling a string of forest fires. This week, almost 190 people have been injured by blazes and 865 evacuated from their homes, the report said.

Firefighters also discovered the charred body of one woman in the northwestern Murtosa municipality on Tuesday evening, the report added.

Source: aa

Saudi Arabia, US announce several agreements during Joe Biden visit Covid-19: German health minister to travel to US for strategy talks

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”