Temperatures above 40°C are scorching parts of Central Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that extreme heat is becoming an increasing public health threat across the region.
The warning comes as several parts of Central Asia endure prolonged periods of intense heat, with forecasters expecting temperatures to climb further in the coming days. Health officials say the hottest days of the summer may still lie ahead, raising concerns about the ability of public services to respond to heat-related illness and protect those most at risk.
Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, has urged governments to treat extreme heat not merely as a weather event but as a serious threat to public health and safety. His remarks reflect growing concern that heatwaves are placing increasing pressure on healthcare and social support systems, particularly in regions where preparedness remains uneven.
The WHO European Region, which comprises 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia, has warned that fewer than half of its member states have national heat-health action plans in place. Such plans are designed to help authorities coordinate healthcare and social services, issue timely public warnings and ensure support reaches vulnerable groups before temperatures reach dangerous levels.
Older people, particularly those living alone, people with chronic health conditions, homeless people and residents of long-term care facilities are among those facing the greatest risks during prolonged periods of extreme heat. The WHO also points to wider challenges, including a shortage of air-conditioned public spaces, limited preparedness within healthcare systems to deal with heat-related illness and low public awareness of the dangers associated with prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
The alert coincides with forecasts of even hotter weather across the region. Kazakhstan's national weather service, Kazhydromet, expects temperatures to reach as high as 45°C in parts of the country between 9 and 11 July. Temperatures of up to 42°C are forecast in the Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions, while neighbouring Kyrgyzstan is also experiencing intense heat, with daytime temperatures in the capital, Bishkek, expected to reach 36°C.
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