Turkey's Heatwave Pushes Asphalt Workers to Labor in 200°C Asphalt Amid 40°C Temperatures

In the southern city of Adana, daily temperatures have risen above 40 °C and freshly laid asphalt reaches nearly 200 °C. Workers on the Kozan‑Çetin Sokak road crew report drinking up to 20 litres of water per shift and continuing the paving operation despite the scorching conditions. Local officials, including Kozan mayor Mustafa Atlı, have urged the teams to keep roads open, emphasizing the importance of completing the project.

Similar extreme heat is affecting the broader southeast, with cities such as Diyarbakır, Mardin, Batman and Şanlıurfa recording temperatures of 40‑45 °C. Construction laborers, road crews and food‑stall operators describe working near open flames that feel as hot as 60 °C. Workers say they take short breaks to avoid heat‑related illness, but the heatwave continues to strain outdoor labor across the region.