Amid a widespread heat wave affecting various parts of the world, a heartwarming scene was captured by Associated Press photographer Fatima Shbair in Gaza City. Palestinians were seen relishing a day at the beach on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The photograph beautifully portrays a boy being joyfully tossed into the air, while a camel gracefully strolls along the sandy coastline.
However, in contrast to the idyllic beach scene, other regions were facing challenging situations due to extreme weather conditions. On the Greek island of Rhodes, destructive fires raged on Monday, necessitating additional evacuations. The fires surged past existing defenses, propelled by strong winds and consecutive heat waves.
Meanwhile, in Canada’s Atlantic-coast province of Nova Scotia, a different weather calamity unfolded. Intense thunderstorms struck over the weekend, leading to record-breaking rainfall across a significant area. This deluge resulted in severe consequences such as flash flooding, road washouts, and widespread power outages. Regrettably, several people were reported missing in the aftermath of these tumultuous storms.
Here are the current events related to extreme weather and climate:
- Changes in Shutoff Rules after Tragic Death: The death of an older woman, Stephanie Pullman, in Arizona due to her electricity being cut during a heat spell five years ago has prompted revisions in shutoff rules. However, advocates argue that more actions need to be taken to prevent similar deaths in the future. Stephanie owed just $51 on her electricity bill. (Associated Press)
- Greta Thunberg in Court for Protesting: Greta Thunberg, the influential climate activist who has inspired a global youth movement demanding stronger action against climate change, appeared in court for charges of disobeying police during a protest in southern Sweden last month.
- Landslides and Weather-related Incidents in Pakistan: Northern Pakistan has experienced landslides triggered by torrential rains, leading to the blockage of crucial roads, stranding tourists, and disrupting traffic. Since June 24, the death toll from weather-related incidents in Pakistan has reached 133.
- Concerns Over Environmental Impacts of Buoy Wrecking Balls: Activists are raising alarm over the environmental consequences of large buoys on the Rio Grande that are causing changes to the landscape.
- Search for Missing Infant in Pennsylvania: Search teams in Pennsylvania are concentrating their efforts on one underwater area in the hopes of finding a 9-month-old boy who was swept away in a flash flood.
“Nobody should be dying because of a job they have,” said United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts, addressing the tragic reality of thousands of premature deaths caused by pneumoconiosis, commonly known as “black lung.”