Heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged, according to a warning from Roberto Salinas, director of the Meteorology program at the Polytechnic School of the National University of Asunción (UNA). While Europe faces record temperatures, the expert highlighted that Paraguay also suffers from vulnerability to these extreme events.
Salinas explained that although heat waves have been part of climatic variability for decades, recent data shows a worrying increase in their frequency and duration. "When we have a heat wave lasting two, three, or four days, this has been happening with more intensity and for longer periods," he stated in an interview with radio station ABC Cardinal.
The meteorologist emphasized that Paraguay faces specific challenges, such as a lack of infrastructure to deal with consecutive days of extreme heat. "By the third or fourth day, many regions are left without electrical power, which increases the population's vulnerability," he said. According to him, entire cities and regions are not prepared for these phenomena.
Salinas pointed out that the conclusions of the scientific community are based on evidence collected by weather stations, satellites, and other sources, confirming global warming and its impacts on South America. He advocated for the need to improve the resilience and adaptation of cities to face these events in the future.