SILOPI: A choking heatwave left astonished locals in south-eastern Turkiye calling for state help to pay their air conditioning bills after the temperature surged past 50C.

“We cannot cope with the heat,” ice-cream maker Recep Esiyok, 59, said in Silopi, where meteorologists measured 50.5C on Friday — a national record.

“I’ve been living in Silopi for about 30 years. I’ve never seen such heat… I’ve never seen such heat anywhere.”

He is getting through the heatwave thanks to the air conditioner in his shop, but is now worried about paying for the electricity.

“My bill last month was 59,000 lira (1,450 dollars). We are asking for state support on this issue.”

Before Friday’s record, the previous peak in Turkiye had been 49.5C in August 2023. Scientists agree that climate change caused by humans burning fossil fuels is increasing the likelihood, length and intensity of heatwaves.

“The heat has reached a point where it’s incomparable to previous years,” said Halil Coskun, 52, a local reporter.

The country is still in the grip of the heatwave and since Sunday temperatures overall have surged from six to 12 degrees above seasonal norms, according to the state meteorology directorate.

Wildfires

Turkiye has fought fires in several regions since the start of the summer.

Last week, 10 people perished while fighting a fire in Eskisehir province.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday the country has experienced drier conditions than normal over the past five years as a result of global warming.

“Extreme heat, low humidity, and strong winds are unfortunately increasing the risk of fire,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2025