Turkey heatwave impacts workers and prompts infrastructure demands

Extreme summer heat across various regions in Turkey is significantly impacting local workers and infrastructure demands. In Cizre, bakers face temperatures exceeding 80 degrees Celsius inside bakeries while outdoor temperatures approach 50 degrees. Similarly, döner chefs in Van report working in environments reaching 80-90 degrees due to the combination of ambient heat and stove temperatures.

In Diyarbakır, toast vendors are struggling with indoor temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees. Some vendors avoid using air conditioning to prevent bread from drying out and losing quality. In Arsuz, one business owner has gained attention by installing air conditioning in a small restroom to provide relief for customers during the heatwave.

Separately, in the Arapgir district, civil society organizations and citizens have issued a joint call for the completion of the 54-kilometer Arapgir-Malatya highway, requesting it be upgraded to a dual carriageway to reduce traffic accidents.