Heat kills hundreds of bees in Akre
Drought forces closure of 198-year-old Sulaimani mosque
How one Barzani tragedy survivor fought back against the Baathist regime
KRG phases out over 2,500 generators as 24-hour power initiative expands
President Barzani, US coalition stress necessity of continuing fight against ISIS
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hundreds of bees have died from extreme heat this year in Erbil province, local beekeepers say, describing a loss unlike anything they have seen before.
'I have been a beekeeper for 25 years. I have never seen this type of catastrophe befall the bees,' said Hussein Abdullah. 'Out of 110 bees, 100 have died with only 10 remaining. All of them are here, and I bring them to this place every year. I did the same thing with them as every year, but due to the heat a harsh catastrophe has befallen us.'
In the villages of Gundki and Khardase, west of the town Akre, nearly 700 bees have died. Aqib Ismail, a young beekeeper, said most of his bees were lost and the rest are still at risk.
'Around 150 of my bees were here. I came and saw that around 100 of my bees, even more, have died. The remaining ones are also in danger right now, all of it because of the heat. I have not seen this type of heat any year,' he said. 'We have kept our bees here every year and have never seen this type of loss hit us. It was something natural and unexpected. We hope the authorities help us.'
The hottest summer temperatures in Akre typically range from 40 to 47 degrees Celsius, with spikes during severe heat waves. The area's elevation tends to somewhat moderate extremes.
Honey bees maintain the temperature in their hives between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius. If hive temperatures stay above this optimal range for several hours, developing larvae can die. Exposure to high temperatures can also quickly become fatal for adult bees.
Bees cool their hives by fanning their wings and bringing in water to evaporate, but during long heat waves these efforts can be overwhelmed, leading to brood loss and weakened colonies.
In very hot regions, beekeepers protect bees by placing hives in shade, providing shallow water sources, improving ventilation with screened bottoms or added vents, and splitting large colonies into smaller ones to reduce heat buildup.
The Kurdistan Region produces award-winning honey.
Scorching summer temperatures are not new in Iraq, especially in the south where highs regularly top 50 degrees Celsius. With climate change, it is becoming increasingly hotter. A lack of basic services, such as water and electricity, makes it harder for people to cope with the heat.
Iraq is also facing a severe water shortage driven by reduced precipitation, rising temperatures, and mismanagement.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
5 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq forecasts scorching weather, Basra expected to hit 50°C
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's Meteorological Authority announced on Saturday that the country will continue to experience extremely hot summer weather over the coming days, with temperatures approaching but mostly staying below 50 degrees Celsius — except in Basra. In a statement, the authority said the nation remains under the influence of a low-pressure thermal system, bringing stable yet intensely hot weather across much of the country. Skies will generally be clear, with occasional scattered clouds in northeastern regions, particularly during midday and evening hours. Saturday's temperatures closely mirrored those recorded the previous day, with a slight increase expected in some areas in central and northern Iraq. On Sunday, the weather is forecast to remain clear and summery, accompanied by light to moderate northwesterly winds. The pattern is expected to continue on Monday, with hot summer conditions and some cloud cover in the southern and northern provinces, alongside moderate northwesterly winds. Tuesday's forecast calls for mostly clear skies with some clouds in central and northern regions, and moderate northwesterly winds. On Wednesday, the weather will remain hot and sunny, with light to moderate winds from the northwest. Maximum temperatures recorded on Saturday were as follows: Baghdad 46°C, Kirkuk 45°C, Nineveh 45°C, Saladin 45°C, Diyala 46°C, Anbar 43°C, Karbala 46°C, Babil 46°C, Wasit 47°C, Najaf 47°C, Diwaniya 47°C, Maysan 49°C, Dhi Qar 48°C, Muthanna 48°C, Basra 50°C. In the Kurdistan Region: Duhok 42°C, Erbil 43°C, Al-Sulaymaniyah 42°C. Forecasted temperatures for Sunday: Baghdad 46°C, Diyala 46°C, Anbar 44°C, Saladin 45°C, Kirkuk 44°C, Babil 46°C, Wasit 46°C, Karbala 46°C, Najaf 47°C, Diwaniya 47°C, Maysan 49°C, Dhi Qar (Nasiriyah) 48°C, Muthanna 47°C, Basra 49°C. In the Kurdistan Region: Erbil 42°C, Al-Sulaymaniyah 41°C, Duhok 41°C.
Rudaw Net
a day ago
- Rudaw Net
Heat kills hundreds of bees in Akre
Also in Kurdistan Drought forces closure of 198-year-old Sulaimani mosque How one Barzani tragedy survivor fought back against the Baathist regime KRG phases out over 2,500 generators as 24-hour power initiative expands President Barzani, US coalition stress necessity of continuing fight against ISIS A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hundreds of bees have died from extreme heat this year in Erbil province, local beekeepers say, describing a loss unlike anything they have seen before. 'I have been a beekeeper for 25 years. I have never seen this type of catastrophe befall the bees,' said Hussein Abdullah. 'Out of 110 bees, 100 have died with only 10 remaining. All of them are here, and I bring them to this place every year. I did the same thing with them as every year, but due to the heat a harsh catastrophe has befallen us.' In the villages of Gundki and Khardase, west of the town Akre, nearly 700 bees have died. Aqib Ismail, a young beekeeper, said most of his bees were lost and the rest are still at risk. 'Around 150 of my bees were here. I came and saw that around 100 of my bees, even more, have died. The remaining ones are also in danger right now, all of it because of the heat. I have not seen this type of heat any year,' he said. 'We have kept our bees here every year and have never seen this type of loss hit us. It was something natural and unexpected. We hope the authorities help us.' The hottest summer temperatures in Akre typically range from 40 to 47 degrees Celsius, with spikes during severe heat waves. The area's elevation tends to somewhat moderate extremes. Honey bees maintain the temperature in their hives between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius. If hive temperatures stay above this optimal range for several hours, developing larvae can die. Exposure to high temperatures can also quickly become fatal for adult bees. Bees cool their hives by fanning their wings and bringing in water to evaporate, but during long heat waves these efforts can be overwhelmed, leading to brood loss and weakened colonies. In very hot regions, beekeepers protect bees by placing hives in shade, providing shallow water sources, improving ventilation with screened bottoms or added vents, and splitting large colonies into smaller ones to reduce heat buildup. The Kurdistan Region produces award-winning honey. Scorching summer temperatures are not new in Iraq, especially in the south where highs regularly top 50 degrees Celsius. With climate change, it is becoming increasingly hotter. A lack of basic services, such as water and electricity, makes it harder for people to cope with the heat. Iraq is also facing a severe water shortage driven by reduced precipitation, rising temperatures, and mismanagement.
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Shafaq News
Beyond 50°C: How decades of conflict are heating Iraq
Shafaq News Iraq is entering an era of dangerous heat extremes, with summer temperatures regularly soaring beyond 50°C. While global climate change is a major factor, experts increasingly point to the environmental legacy of decades of war as a critical driver of this crisis. Armed conflict has left behind scorched landscapes, toxic emissions, and destroyed ecosystems. From the Iran-Iraq War to the Gulf conflicts and the fight against ISIS, each wave of violence has released massive quantities of greenhouse gases, degraded natural cooling systems, and dismantled vital infrastructure. These war-driven changes have reshaped Iraq's environment, making it more vulnerable to extreme heat, drought, and accelerating desertification. War as a Driving Force Radiation and pollution expert Iqbal Latif explained to Shafaq News that the use of depleted uranium in military munitions has triggered acute climatic disturbances. 'The detonation of these munitions generates heat as high as 10,000°C, forming dense clouds that block sunlight,' she noted. 'When these clouds mix with carbon and sulfur oxides, the resulting gases rise to the upper atmosphere, trapping heat and intensifying long-term global warming.' Referencing data from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Latif pointed out that US military operations have accounted for approximately 5.8% of global emissions at their peak, contributing an estimated 60 million tons of carbon annually—further accelerating atmospheric warming and ozone depletion. She noted that since 1991, Iraq has witnessed abnormal temperature rises. In provinces such as Basra, Dhi Qar, and Muthanna, residents began using air conditioning for the first time, after having previously lived in relatively temperate climates. Earlier this year, Deputy Minister of Environment Jassim al-Falahi revealed that Iraq's temperatures have risen by 4–5°C above historical averages over the past 50 years—well above the global average increase over the same period. Supporting this observation, data from the World Resources Institute shows that the destruction of infrastructure during conflict—particularly oil wells and refineries—has become a measurable contributor to Iraq's emissions. Post-conflict air quality monitoring in areas such as Qayyarah and Al-Baiji has detected long-term traces of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and lingering thermal radiation zones. Fires of War The widespread combustion of hydrocarbons from bombed oil wells, refineries, and storage facilities releases vast quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂), black carbon, volatile organic compounds, and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Black carbon—commonly known as soot—is particularly harmful. It absorbs solar radiation and warms the atmosphere up to a million times more effectively per particle than CO₂ over short periods. During the 1991 Gulf War, nearly 700 Kuwaiti oil wells were set alight by retreating Iraqi forces, producing an estimated 1.5 million tons of CO₂ per day at the peak of the fires. The resulting soot and aerosols drifted into southern Iraq and beyond, darkening skies, disrupting precipitation patterns, and polluting soil and water. This dense pollution layer also limited surface evaporation and photosynthesis, contributing to prolonged drying and vegetation loss in southern Iraq. More recently, during battles against ISIS, the bombing and burning of oil facilities in Mosul, Al-Baiji, and Qayyarah released additional emissions, including sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These chemicals react with atmospheric moisture to form acid rain, which degrades soil quality and reduces its ability to retain water—further intensifying drought conditions. In Nineveh and Saladdin, satellite imagery from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) documented drastic changes in soil reflectivity (albedo) after widespread fires. The now-darkened ground surfaces absorb more solar radiation, significantly raising land surface temperatures. Beyond fire damage, the loss of forests, farmlands, and marshes has stripped Iraq of crucial natural carbon sinks and exposed topsoil to erosion and moisture loss. Vegetation plays a vital role in cooling land surfaces through evapotranspiration—a process that transfers heat into the atmosphere. Its absence not only accelerates desertification, but also worsens the urban heat island effect, pushing local surface temperatures even higher. Seeds of Decay Haider Rashaad al-Rubaie, head of the Epoch for Relief and Sustainable Development organization, emphasized that wars have been a primary factor behind the degradation of Iraq's vegetation, particularly in the south. "Basra once had more than 10 million palm trees before the Iran-Iraq war,' he noted, stressing that 'Today, fewer than one million remain.' He also pointed to widespread land mines and unexploded ordnance that have driven farmers off their land, worsening desertification and contributing to rising temperatures. Military detonations and oil fires, he added, emit large amounts of carbon and greenhouse gases, which induce lasting climate shifts. 'The explosions and oil well fires release pollutants that drive global warming—one of the most significant contributors to Iraq's rising heat levels.' Meanwhile, academic environmental researcher Shukri al-Hassan offered a broader perspective, noting that heat increases cannot be attributed solely to warfare. "Multiple climate variables are involved,' he explained. 'These include atmospheric pressure, wind direction, soil composition, seasonal planetary motion, drought, and vegetation loss.' Even so, he acknowledged the extensive environmental damage caused by war. Iraq's green cover has been decimated, while vast amounts of pollutants—including radioactive uranium and toxic gases—have entered the ecosystem, compounding the effects of global warming. The rise in extreme temperatures is no longer a seasonal irregularity—it has evolved into a mounting public health emergency. Iraq has experienced higher rates of cholera, skin diseases, and heatstroke. Government authorities have repeatedly suspended official working hours during the hottest months, particularly when temperatures exceeded 50°C, underscoring the impact on public health, daily life, and the broader economy.
