The increasing threat of climate crisis has raised the alarm bells regarding the potentially dangerous heatwaves that can wreak havoc on unprepared countries and regions. Researchers have now identified a list of countries that are highly vulnerable to extreme heatwaves and are at risk of destruction if not adequately prepared.
The study analyzed temperature data and climate models from the past 60 years and identified countries that are highly vulnerable to becoming ‘hotspots’ for heatwaves that pose a high risk and are susceptible to ‘destruction.’
The list of countries includes Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, which are highly vulnerable due to their rapidly growing populations, limited access to healthcare, and energy supply, which can damage their resilience to extreme temperatures.
According to a report published in Nature Communications, these countries are highly vulnerable, and there is evidence that they may experience significant heatwaves for which they are not prepared.
Professor Dann Mitchell, an atmospheric science professor at the University of Bristol, has stated that Afghanistan is the country at the highest risk, as the country’s current social and economic problems could cause significant difficulties for the South Asian country. He believes that Afghanistan’s problems will worsen if potential extreme heat records occur.
The report suggests that Afghanistan is struggling with terrible social and economic problems, and its growing population is increasingly exposed to limited resources.
Heatwaves are one of the most destructive phenomena that can affect a country, as they can lower air quality, increase drought conditions, raise the risk of forest fires, and cause infrastructure damage.
They can also harm human health, increasing the risk of headaches, dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness, and heatstroke, which can cause permanent disability or death. Extreme heat is often referred to as one of the deadliest natural disasters.
Recently, many regions around the world have experienced extreme heat waves, including Indonesia, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, and India. Bangladesh, for example, has experienced temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius. The study emphasizes that these trends are concerning, and countries need to take proactive measures to address the issue and develop resilience to extreme heat to avoid severe consequences.
