European countries have faced serious human casualties amid the severe heatwaves observed in June and early July.
Modern.az recalls that, according to official and media reports, temperatures have risen to record levels, especially in France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, and thousands of deaths have been recorded.
According to the information, more than 2,000 people are reported to have died in France alone in recent weeks due to heat-related causes. Hundreds of deaths have been recorded in Spain and Italy. The situation has reached a critical level in Portugal and Greece, with mortality rates increasing, especially among the elderly.
Experts state that heatwaves are not new in Europe, but one of the main factors aggravating the situation this time is the insufficient flexibility of infrastructure and social adaptation. The lack of public cooling spaces, overload in healthcare systems, and untimely protection of risk groups are particularly noteworthy.
Although a state of emergency has been declared in several cities, real aid mechanisms are reported to be delayed or insufficient for a large part of the local population. The elderly, those living alone, and people with chronic diseases are identified as the most at-risk groups.
An interesting point is that such natural phenomena are not limited to Europe. Similar heatwaves have been observed and human casualties recorded in the USA, Canada, China, and Middle Eastern countries in recent years.
Against the backdrop of global climate change, extreme weather events are no longer an exception but are becoming the norm. However, the mechanisms for managing these risks vary significantly in different countries.
Azerbaijan is also among the countries affected by climate change. High temperatures, torrential rains, floods, landslides, and other natural phenomena are observed periodically during the summer months.
However, the experience of recent years shows that a systematic approach to emergency management has been formed in the country. As a result of the coordinated activities of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, local executive structures, and other bodies, minimizing losses in such events remains the main goal.
Operational intervention and social support measures are carried out during heavy rains and floods, as well as landslides and fires. In many cases, population evacuation, flexible intervention in infrastructure, and restoration work are carried out in a short time.
One of the points to note is that while natural disasters in some countries do not result in systematic state criticism in public discussions, similar events in Azerbaijan often become the subject of political discussion.
However, global practice shows that extreme natural events cannot be completely prevented in any country. The main issue is risk management, minimizing losses, and operational response.
Azerbaijan's experience in recent years also shows that state bodies mobilize their resources in this direction to minimize possible risks and implement social protection measures in parallel.
The heatwaves observed in Europe once again show that climate change is a global threat and no country is fully insured against it. These processes are not only a technical and infrastructure issue but are also directly related to the level of social management and preparedness.
At the same time, an objective comparison of events in different countries shows that the effectiveness of the response to natural disasters and the management model significantly affect the scale of the consequences.
Azerbaijan's experience shows that it is possible to minimize the consequences of such events with proper coordination and operational management.
