KABUL): Residents have been complaining over the past few days of intense heat in different parts of the country, with the mercury soaring to 50 degrees centigrade in several provinces.

The Afghanistan Meteorological Authority head confirmed some parts of the country had been in the grip of an unusual heat wave during the last three days.

Mohammad Ishaq Noori told Pajhwok Afghan News the temperature in Kabul was recorded at 39.40 degrees centigrade two days back, breaking a 50-year record.

In Kabul, he said, the mercury dipped from 37.5 on Monday to 36.5 degrees centigrade on Tuesday. Fast-observing residents, particularly labourers, were the worst hit.

The heat wave maintained its grip on Kandahar and Nimroz provinces, where the temperature shot up to 50 degrees centigrade. But now the mercury there has edged down to 49.6.

Noori said the temperature in Herat on Monday was 45 that fell by one degree centigrade on Tuesday. Overnight rain in eastern Nangarhar province brought the temperature down from 45 to 38 degrees centigrade.

The heat wave would persist in most parts of the country over the next one week, predicted the official, who said rains were expected in early August. The wet spell would bring a pleasant change to the weather, he hoped.

A 75-year-old resident of the Qala-i-Zaman Kahn locality said: “I haven’t seen such intense heat throughout my life. The temperature over the past three days has simply been intolerable.”

Abdul Ghaffar, wiping his forehead sweat off with a handkerchief, remarked: “Even fans aren’t working. The elderly like me are particularly in trouble; they can’t sleep either at night or in daytime.”

Zarghona Kakar, deputy chief of the Kandahar provincial council, told Pajhwok Afghan News the temperature had been on the rise over the last 20 days.

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