Brazil Experiences Health Alerts Amidst an Unbearable Heatwave

Brazil is currently experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, with red alerts being issued for nearly 3,000 towns and cities across the country. This extreme heat has broken records in areas such as Rio de Janeiro, where temperatures felt as high as 52.5C. More than a hundred million people have been affected by the heat, which is expected to last until at least Friday. Officials have attributed this heatwave to the El Niño phenomenon and climate change. The city of Sao Paulo saw average temperatures of 37.3C on Tuesday afternoon, causing exhaustion among its residents who are struggling to cope with the extreme conditions. The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) has issued red alerts for many parts of Brazil, indicating temperatures that are 5C above average for more than five days and posing a serious health risk. This heatwave has caused Brazil's energy consumption to reach record levels as people try to stay cool. Research from Inmet has shown that average temperatures in the country were above historical averages from July to October. This extreme weather is becoming more frequent and intense worldwide due to climate change. Scientists predict that heatwaves will continue to worsen as long as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. Additionally, the Earth is currently in an El Niño weather phase, which typically leads to increased global temperatures.