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WORLD’S WORST 28-29
Other big heatwaves
In July 2006, Europe was again hit by a severe heatwave, which left three thousand dead.
The Netherlands alone had some thousand heat-related deaths that year.
In July 1995, Chicago reported 465 heat-related deaths within a week. Temperatures
touched 41 degrees Celsius and were combined with very high humidity. The city’s roads
buckled, rails got warped, and power grids failed. Bridges had to be watered so they
wouldn’t break when plates expanded due to the heat. Hospitals and paramedic units could
not keep up with the number of heat-related illnesses.
Though India is used to higher temperatures, the heatwave
of May 1998 left more than 2,500 dead. The heatwave
scorched most of India. The temperature in the state
of Rajasthan touched nearly 50 degrees Celsius.
50°C
Aaargh! The Extreme heat turns forests into
snow shrank! dry tinder, making them more
vulnerable to fires.
Did you know?
Heatwaves occur in
different parts of the The total mass of
world at different glaciers in the Alps
periods of time. shrank by ten per
cent as a result
of the European
heatwave of 2003.
temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius, that is, 160 days from October 31, 1923, to April 7, 1924.
Other big heatwaves
In July 2006, Europe was again hit by a severe heatwave, which left three thousand dead.
The Netherlands alone had some thousand heat-related deaths that year.
In July 1995, Chicago reported 465 heat-related deaths within a week. Temperatures
touched 41 degrees Celsius and were combined with very high humidity. The city’s roads
buckled, rails got warped, and power grids failed. Bridges had to be watered so they
wouldn’t break when plates expanded due to the heat. Hospitals and paramedic units could
not keep up with the number of heat-related illnesses.
Though India is used to higher temperatures, the heatwave
of May 1998 left more than 2,500 dead. The heatwave
scorched most of India. The temperature in the state
of Rajasthan touched nearly 50 degrees Celsius.
50°C
Aaargh! The Extreme heat turns forests into
snow shrank! dry tinder, making them more
vulnerable to fires.
Did you know?
Heatwaves occur in
different parts of the The total mass of
world at different glaciers in the Alps
periods of time. shrank by ten per
cent as a result
of the European
heatwave of 2003.
temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius, that is, 160 days from October 31, 1923, to April 7, 1924.
