12.08.2026 14:01
In Şanlıurfa, one of Turkey's hottest provinces, the air temperature reached 47 degrees Celsius, virtually paralyzing daily life. While citizens tried to escape the sweltering heat by flocking to parks and Balıklıgöl, silence prevailed on the city's busy avenues and streets.
The heat wave affecting Turkey nationwide reached record levels in Şanlıurfa. In the city, where thermometers showed 47 degrees during the day, the increasing temperatures made daily life quite difficult. While citizens under the scorching heat preferred not to go out unless necessary, those who did go out clung to their umbrellas and hats to protect themselves from the burning effect of the sun.
THEY FLOCKED TO BALIKLIGOL AND PARKS
The first places Urfa residents took refuge in to escape the suffocating heat were the city's green areas. Especially the historical Balıklıgöl Complex, a symbol of the city, along with wooded areas and parks, filled with citizens seeking to cool off.
'FAN' PRECAUTION IN HISTORICAL BAZAARS
The extreme heat also pushed shopkeepers in the historical bazaar area, the heart of the city, to find different solutions. To ensure that local and foreign tourists shopping in the area were less affected by the hot weather and could walk around comfortably, fan systems installed along the bazaar were operated, attempting to create an artificial cool environment.
STREETS AND AVENUES LEFT EMPTY
The desert heat reaching 47 degrees directly hit the city's traffic and pedestrian flow. Due to the dangerously high temperatures, a noticeable decrease in vehicle and pedestrian density was observed in many points of Şanlıurfa that are normally crowded at all hours, with streets appearing almost empty.