United News of Bangladesh

Health experts say babies, toddlers and young children need outdoor play for healthy growth and development, but parents should take extra precautions to protect them during periods of extreme heat. As climate change contributes to longer and more intense heatwaves, doctors say heat-related illnesses are becoming a growing concern for children. "We've always warned parents about risks like drowning and choking, and now heat is becoming another major safety concern," said Dr. Katherine Williamson, a pediatrician at Rady Children's Health in Orange, California. Why children are more at risk Experts say young children overheat more quickly than adults because they sweat less and have a faster metabolism. Their bodies also absorb heat more easily due to a higher surface-area-to-body-mass ratio. Since children often spend more time outdoors, parents should closely watch for signs of heat-related illness. For infants, fewer wet diapers or a lack of tears when crying may indicate dehydration. Doctors recommend feeding babies smaller amounts more frequently to help keep them hydrated. Tiredness, flushed skin and unusual irritability are also signs that a child may be getting too hot and needs to cool down. Ways to keep children safe Doctors recommend avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day whenever possible. Children should wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, use sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids. Water-rich fruits such as watermelon and strawberries can also help keep children hydrated. "If you feel hot, your baby is almost certainly feeling even hotter," said Dr. Debra Langlois of the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. She advised limiting the amount of time babies and toddlers spend outside during very hot weather, although she said there is no need to stay indoors all day. Avoid covering strollers with blankets Health experts warn against placing blankets or cloth covers over baby strollers to block the sun. Although it may seem helpful, coverings reduce airflow and trap heat inside the stroller, making it much hotter for the child. Instead, parents should use the stroller's built-in sunshade or canopy. They should also check metal parts of the stroller, which can become hot enough to burn a child's skin. Never leave children in a parked vehicle Doctors also stress that children should never be left alone inside a parked vehicle, even for a short time. Temperatures inside a car can rise rapidly, even if the windows are partly open or the vehicle is parked in the shade. According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 31 children died from heatstroke in vehicles in 2025. The agency recommends placing a personal item, such as a handbag, in the back seat or putting a stuffed toy on the front passenger seat as reminders to check the back seat before leaving the vehicle. When placing a child in a parked car on a hot day, parents should also make sure the car seat and metal buckles are not too hot. Experts recommend using sunshades to keep the vehicle cooler and running the air conditioner while opening the windows briefly to help remove trapped hot air before putting a child inside.

An unusually early and intense heat wave across Europe this year may have caused more than 10,000 additional deaths, according to early data collected from several countries. Researchers say deaths rose sharply in late June, when many parts of Europe experienced record-breaking temperatures. Scientists measure this using "excess mortality"—the number of deaths above what would normally be expected during a given period. Experts caution that the actual toll may be even higher because many heat-related deaths are never officially recorded as being caused by extreme heat. For example, a heart attack triggered by high temperatures may simply be listed as a heart attack on a death certificate. The figures raise fresh concerns as Europe enters the summer season. The continent has experienced several deadly heat waves in recent years, although the 2003 heat wave remains the worst on record, with around 70,000 deaths. Scientists say climate change, driven largely by the burning of fossil fuels, is making heat waves more frequent and more severe. Sharp rise in deaths during one week EuroMOMO, a European mortality monitoring network that collects data from two dozen countries, estimated 14,260 excess deaths from all causes during the week ending June 28. More than 12,000 of those deaths were among people aged 65 and above. A total of 84,583 deaths were recorded that week, while excess mortality was much lower in the weeks before and after. Lasse Vestergaard of Denmark's Statens Serum Institut, which coordinates EuroMOMO, said the spike was most likely linked to the widespread heat wave because there was no other clear explanation for such a large increase in deaths. He described such a high number of excess deaths in a single week as "highly unusual." According to EuroMOMO, France, Belgium and Germany recorded the highest rates of excess mortality during the period. Individual countries have also released their own estimates, although the methods used vary. Germany Germany's Robert Koch Institute estimated that 6,830 people died from heat-related causes through early July, including 6,470 people aged 65 or older. Late June temperatures reached 41.7 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in the country, according to the German Weather Service. United Kingdom Britain's Met Office estimated that about 2,700 people died from heat-related causes during heat waves in England and Wales in May and June. Around 550 of those deaths occurred during a late-May heat wave, while about 2,200 were linked to the late-June heat wave. The UK also recorded its hottest May and June on record. France France's public health agency reported at least 2,000 more deaths during the week of June 22-28 compared with the previous week. The country experienced its hottest days on record on June 24 and 25, with more than 40% of France recording temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. Spain Spain's Carlos III Health Institute estimated that 937 deaths in June were linked to extreme heat. According to the national weather agency AEMET, June was the country's second-hottest on record, with average temperatures 3.2 degrees Celsius above normal. Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius during a five-day heat wave. Belgium Belgium's public health institute Sciensano estimated 1,747 excess deaths between June 18 and July 1. The institute said higher mortality is expected during heat waves, but described the June 2026 event as exceptional because of its intensity and widespread impact. The country's highest temperature during the heat wave reached 35.5 degrees Celsius on June 26. Netherlands Dutch public health authorities estimated 480 more deaths than expected during the June heat wave. The increase was greatest in the eastern and southern parts of the country, where temperatures were highest. The Netherlands also recorded its hottest June temperature on record at 36.8 degrees Celsius, breaking a record that had stood since 1947.

Three children died after a recreational boat capsized during a powerful storm on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin, as severe weather and a heat wave disrupted July Fourth celebrations across the United States, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without electricity. Authorities said all four children aboard the boat were wearing life jackets when the privately owned motorboat overturned on Friday during a sudden storm in Walworth County, a popular holiday destination for visitors from the Chicago area. Officials said the boat, carrying 10 people including four children, tried to reach safety before being hit by strong winds and large waves. The vessel took on water, capsized and sank. Six adults and one child were rescued, but three children were later pulled from the lake after an extensive search. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, they could not be revived, police said. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency are investigating the incident. In a statement, Lake Geneva police said the tragedy was caused by a "sudden and severe storm" that quickly created dangerous conditions on the lake. Following the storm, Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause declared a local emergency. One person suffered minor injuries after being struck by a falling tree, while fallen trees and downed power lines blocked several roads. The Wisconsin tragedy came as severe storms swept across parts of the Midwest and Northeast, knocking down trees, damaging power lines and disrupting transportation. A similar storm that hit the New York area late Friday left hundreds of thousands of utility customers without power, canceled train services to New Jersey and damaged or uprooted thousands of trees. At the peak of the outages, nearly one million customers across several states lost electricity. By midday Saturday, about 750,000 customers in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and New Jersey were still without power. The severe weather also forced several cities to cancel Independence Day events and postpone fireworks displays. In Belleville, New Jersey, Mayor Frank Velez announced that the city's fireworks celebration would be postponed until next year, saying public safety remained the top priority. Meanwhile, parts of the Northeast continued to experience intense heat on Friday, with temperatures climbing close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit before storms brought cooler conditions expected to continue into the new week.

A powerful heat wave is expected to grip much of the central and eastern United States this week, bringing dangerously high temperatures to several cities hosting FIFA World Cup knockout matches and raising concerns for both players and fans. Forecasters say a strong heat dome will push temperatures and humidity to uncomfortable levels, with the heat index, or the "feels-like" temperature, expected to climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in several areas. Open-air stadiums in cities including Boston, Philadelphia and Kansas City are expected to be among the hardest hit. "This week is going to be extremely hot," said Geoff Cornish, assistant chief video meteorologist at AccuWeather. He described it as a major heat wave that is not seen every year. Heat has been a growing concern throughout the tournament, which is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Scientists say climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is making extreme heat more frequent and intense around the world. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, extreme heat causes more deaths in the US each year than hurricanes, floods or tornadoes. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for Philadelphia and nearby areas from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday evening, with "feels-like" temperatures expected to reach as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius). In response, FIFA has adjusted the operating hours of its Fan Festival in Philadelphia. Saturday's fan event will end after the conclusion of the 1 p.m. match. Kansas City is also under an extreme heat warning through Friday night, with the heat index forecast to range between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 to 43.3 degrees Celsius). The New York City area could experience near-record heat, with temperatures feeling as high as 109 degrees Fahrenheit (42.8 degrees Celsius), while Boston and much of southern New England could see heat index values of up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit (43.9 degrees Celsius). Weather officials warned that the extreme heat could be life-threatening for people without access to cooling or enough drinking water and could also put pressure on transportation, electricity and water systems. Players will have several protections during matches, including medical support and mandatory three-minute cooling breaks in each half. However, health experts warn that even elite athletes remain at risk of heat-related illnesses. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include severe tiredness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps and dehydration. In more serious cases, heat stroke can develop and requires immediate medical treatment. Experts also say high temperatures can reduce the intensity of matches, as players often run less and conserve energy to cope with the heat. Fans, volunteers and stadium workers may face even greater risks, especially in outdoor fan zones, parking areas and transport hubs where they could spend long periods in direct sunlight. Health experts also caution that drinking alcohol in extreme heat increases the risk of dehydration. Several host cities and stadiums have expanded access to shaded areas, cooling stations and free drinking water. Medical teams will also be available at FIFA Fan Festivals and around stadiums to treat heat-related illnesses if needed. Health experts advise people attending matches or outdoor events to drink plenty of water, stay in shaded or air-conditioned areas whenever possible, wear light, loose-fitting clothing and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day. Maggie Aldousany, an associate clinical professor at the University of Miami, said people should begin drinking enough fluids well before attending matches or celebrations rather than waiting until they feel thirsty. Experts also recommend limiting alcohol consumption and checking for signs of dehydration. Light yellow urine is generally considered a sign of good hydration. Older adults, people taking certain medications and those not accustomed to hot weather are among those most at risk. Cornish advised anyone who feels dizzy, overheated or notices they have stopped sweating to move to a cooler place, drink water and seek medical attention immediately if symptoms become severe.

“Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Sunday on X. “Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average,” he added. Driven by climate change and global warming, the “once-in-a-generation” heat wave is now occurring nearly every year, Tedros said, adding that more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded since June 21 linked to high temperatures in Europe. “Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ — and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures,” Tedros warned as he called on European countries to implement action plans. He said they should focus on preparedness, prevention and stronger health system responses.

France saw around 1,000 additional deaths last week at the height of its record-smashing heat wave, the country's public health agency said Sunday, as Europeans elsewhere were suffering through yet another day of new temperature highs that sparked wildfires in Germany and had Berlin police using water cannons to cool down the crowds. Temperature records were toppled in several countries on the weekend as the heat wave slowly moved toward eastern parts of the continent. In Germany, a new nighttime temperature record was reported Sunday from Kubschütz, in eastern Saxony, where the temperature did not drop below 29.4 degrees Celsius (84.9 Fahrenheit). The nightly record came only hours after a daytime record of 41.5 C (106.7 F) in Möckern-Drewitz in Saxony-Anhalt, according to preliminary data by the German Weather Service DWD. The previous record was set a day earlier. A new study from the World Weather Attribution, a Europe-based collaboration of scientists, reported Friday that the record-breaking heat and humidity in Europe this week would not have been possible without climate change. The rapid study found that the heat would have been virtually impossible just five decades ago, and is 200 times more likely today than it would have been 20 years ago. France records surge in deaths during heat wave France saw a surge in deaths last week at the height of its record-smashing heat wave, including a sharp increase in calls to private homes, especially in the Paris region, the national public health agency said Sunday. There were more than 1,200 deaths on Wednesday, when France was sweltering under its hottest temperatures ever, increasing to more than 1,400 deaths on each of the two following days, Public Health France said. In April and May, before the heat wave, France’s rate of deaths was about 900 to 1,000 per day, it said. The agency concluded that France experienced a total of at least 1,000 additional deaths during those three days alone, an estimate it cautioned is likely to increase as more data is collected, including for deaths at home. The increase in deaths was sharpest in areas under red warnings of extreme heat, it said. Those warnings blanketed about three-quarters of the country at the peak of the heat wave. The agency said that 85% of the deaths involved people aged 65 and above. Heat sparks wildfires in forests contaminated with WWII ammunition In Gohrischheide, in eastern Germany, a fire broke out in a large forest that's still contaminated with ammunition from World War II, which made the firefighters' efforts to put out the flames even more dangerous and complicated.

An unusually early heat wave has swept across parts of Western Europe, breaking long-standing temperature records and causing several deaths, officials said. In the United Kingdom, temperatures crossed 35 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, setting a new record for this time of year for the second day in a row. According to the Met Office, 35.1°C was recorded at London’s Kew Gardens, surpassing both Monday’s record and a century-old high set in 1922. London also experienced a rare “tropical night,” where temperatures stayed above 20°C. France has also been hit by extreme heat, with temperatures reaching up to 36°C in the southwest and remaining above 20°C overnight in many areas. The country’s weather agency said a “heat dome” — a high-pressure system trapping hot air — is pushing temperatures more than 10°C above normal for this time of year. Experts say such extreme and unpredictable weather events are becoming more common due to climate change. They warn that rising global temperatures are making heat waves more frequent and intense, even in seasons when they are not usually expected. After a long weekend, many people in the UK crowded beaches and parks to cool down, while commuters struggled in overheated trains and subways without air conditioning. Some train services were disrupted due to heat-related issues. Emergency services also responded to wildfires in parts of Scotland, where a large grass fire broke out near Edinburgh. Health authorities in the UK have issued an amber alert, warning of possible health risks, especially for older people. Since many homes and public places in the country lack air conditioning, the heat has become particularly challenging. At least five people, including teenagers, have died in the UK in suspected drowning incidents as they tried to cool off in lakes and reservoirs. In France, officials reported at least seven deaths linked to the heat, including several drownings and fatalities during sports activities. The risks have increased as the heat wave arrived before lifeguards were deployed at many beaches. Authorities have urged people to be cautious, especially along the Atlantic coast, where strong currents have already led to multiple rescue incidents. The heat has also spread to Spain, where temperatures in some areas have reached up to 38°C  levels usually seen in mid-summer. Weather officials say temperatures across the region are 5 to 10°C higher than normal. In Italy, Rome is also experiencing rising temperatures, with highs expected to reach around 32°C. Officials across Europe are continuing to warn people to stay safe as the unusual heat wave continues.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department(BMD) predicted light to moderate rains in parts of the country including Rangpur, Mymensingh and  Sylhet divisions in 24 hours from 9am on Sunday. “Rains or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind and lightning flashes are likely over Rangpur, Mymensingh & Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal & Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and  Sylhet divisions,”said a Met office bulletin. Besides, the mild heat wave sweeping over Khulna division and Dhaka, Madaripur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Patuakhali, Rangamati, Bandarban, Chandpur, Laxmipur & Feni districts may abate from some places. Day temperature may fall by (1-2)°C over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh & Sylhet divisions and it may fall slightly elsewhere over the country. Night temperature may fall slightly over the country.

A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over different parts of the country including Dhaka and it may continue, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said on Saturday. “A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and the districts of Dhaka, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Manikganj, Narayanganj, Rangamati, Chandpur, Barishal, Patuakhali and it may continue,” said a Met office bulletin. Besides, rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind and lightning flashes is likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, it said. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. The highest temperature of 39.7°C was recorded in Chuadanga on Friday. A trough of low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area. Seasonal low lies over South Bay.  

A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping across several parts of the country and may expand further, according to a bulletin issued by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Friday morning. The heat wave is currently affecting Rajshahi and Khulna divisions, along with the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Manikganj and Nilphamari, it said. The highest temperature of 38.5°C was recorded in Chuadanga on Thursday. Meanwhile, rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds and lightning are likely at one or two places over Sylhet division in the 24 hours commencing at 9am on Friday. Elsewhere, the weather is expected to remain mainly dry with partly cloudy skies at times. Day and night temperatures may rise slightly across the country. The bulletin added that a trough of low pressure lies over West Bengal and adjoining areas, while a seasonal low lies over the South Bay.