Türkiye is in the midst of an extreme heat spell that has gripped many regions, including Bodrum where daytime air temperatures have surged beyond 40 degrees Celsius. Local broadcasters described asphalt softening under the sun, a stark sign of the heat intensifying in the area. TGRT News reported these developments from the coastal town.
In some shaded zones around Bodrum, officials recorded peak temperatures reaching as high as 44°C. The scorching conditions led to visible asphalt melting in rural stretches of Kumköy, Pınarlıbelen, and the Etrim district, illustrating how heat can affect road surfaces and transport in real time. The situation has practical consequences for residents who depend on these roads, and for drivers navigating local routes amid the unusual heat. TGRT News noted the challenges that the melting pavement creates for everyday mobility in rural communities and for those commuting across these areas.
This period marks Türkiye’s experience with what commentators are calling a new African heat wave. The intense heat has broad implications for public safety, energy demand, and daily life as communities adapt to record temperatures that stress infrastructure and services.
Meanwhile, reports from Antalya describe a wider ecological response to the heat. Snakes have been observed entering residential areas, workplaces, and vehicles as the environment becomes more arid and food and shelter become harder to locate. Emergency services and local residents have worked to manage these encounters. Firefighters have conducted 106 snake rescues this year from inhabited areas, highlighting a side effect of the heat on wildlife movement and human community spaces.
In a separate incident connected to heat, an air traveler at Pulkovo airport triggered an emergency action by opening a cabin hatch in response to the extreme temperatures, a rare occurrence underscoring how intense heat can influence behavior and operational decisions in normally controlled environments. This event adds to a growing pattern of heat-related disruptions affecting both people and infrastructure across the region.