Iraq has topped the list of countries with the world's highest temperatures, with several Iraqi cities recording temperatures exceeding half the boiling point, according to weather monitoring data from the past 24 hours.

Basra International Airport ranked first globally as the hottest location with a temperature of 51.8°C (125.2°F) on July 28, surpassing Iran's Abadan city, which placed second at 51.2°C (124.2°F), Rudaw reported.

Hussein station in Basra took third place with the same temperature as Abadan. The global top 10 included several other Iraqi cities, notably Nasiriyah and Tikrit at 51.1°C (124°F), Karbala and Kirkuk at 51°C (123.8°F), and Amarah, Aziziyah, Badra, Diwaniyah, Kut at 50.9°C (123.6°F), with Hit recording 50.7°C (123.3°F).

Iraqi cities occupied 11 of the top 15 positions on the highest temperature list, reflecting an escalating heatwave across the country during the summer.

The data demonstrates that Iraq remains among the regions most exposed to extreme weather phenomena globally, amid ongoing warnings about the impacts of climate change, desertification and declining vegetation cover.

The significant temperature rise comes as southern and central governorates face warnings about the dangers of direct sun exposure. Experts call for protective measures, particularly for vulnerable populations, including children and elderly people.

Iraq's General Authority for Meteorology and Seismic Monitoring, part of the Ministry of Transport, announced that the country continues to be affected by an extremely hot air mass resulting from low surface thermal pressure, explaining the continuation of high temperatures and stable weather.

Several Iraqi provinces have suspended official working hours as the country experiences an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 50°C (122°F) in multiple areas, including Garmian.

The provinces of Dhi Qar, Maysan, Basra, Wasit, Diwaniyah and Karbala officially announced work suspensions except for service and health departments due to extreme temperature rises, Al-Masra reported on July 27.

Local governments in Saladin, Diyala and Muthanna provinces announced reduced working hours due to the continuing impact of the heatwave and temperatures reaching dangerous levels.

Iraq's Meteorological Authority denied that temperatures reached 65°C on July 27, whilst forecasting the heatwave to continue to July 29. Authority spokesman Amer al-Jabri said temperatures are expected to reach 52°C (125.6°F), dismissing claims of 65°C readings, and indicated temperatures will begin declining.

Oil companies in Basra province decided to suspend official working hours across all their departments and subdivisions due to the severe temperature rise, amid weather experts' warnings of serious health consequences unless urgent protective measures are taken during the current heatwave.

As bnm IntelliNews previously reported, Turkey was hit by a scorching temperature of 50° Celsius for the first time in recorded history on July 25.

“This is climate change, and it’s accelerating,” was the response from weather site Met4Cast.

“This isn’t just a heatwave, It’s the edge of human survival. In low humidity just 30 minutes of exposure risks heat stroke. Increasing humidity shortens that time,” it added.

The record-shattering temperature was measured at 50.5° Celsius (122.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in Silopi, Sirnak province, near the border with Syria, by the Turkish State Meteorological Service. The highest ever temperature recorded in Europe is the 48.8°  Celsius experienced by Sicily, Italy, in August 2021.