Israel could be struck by two severe heat waves this summer as a result of climate change, the country’s Defense Ministry warned on Sunday.
The ministry’s controlled National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and the Israel Meteorological Service warned in a prediction cited by reporters that temperature could hit as high as 49 degrees C (120 degrees F) between June and September, .
The prediction said the heat wave could result in up to an 8.5% increase in mortality and a rise between 10% and 15% in average hospitalization due to cardiovascular disease.
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NEMA said the heat wave could also cause electricity consumption to rise as much as 10%, thereby leaving the country at extreme risk of fires. It also expects higher than usual heat in May and October.
“The State of Israel is preparing for various emergencies, crises and disasters, which may endanger human life, cause severe damage to daily life, national infrastructures, security capabilities, and significantly harm national resilience,” NEMA said.
Experts predict that 2023 will be one of the hottest years on record and as global temperature will be at least 1 degree Celsius above average for the tenth consecutive year.
Story was adapted from AA.
