ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

City Experiences Temperatures Hotter Than Human Body Can Handle

City Experiences Temperatures Hotter Than Human Body Can Handle

The city's temperatures can top 50C in the summer

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A Pakistani city hits temperatures of up to 52C (126F) and is officially too hot for the human body to withstand.

Jacobabad, in the Indus Valley region of Pakistan, has around 200,000 residents but during the summer months its streets are noticeably deserted due to the extreme heat, while its hospitals are filled with heat stroke cases.

The city's combination of heat and humidity make it one of only two places in the world that have passed a threshold hotter than the human body can withstand.

And experts fear it could get even hotter in years to come due to climate change.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Tom Matthews, a lecturer in climate science at Loughborough University, said: "The Indus Valley is arguably close to being the number one spot worldwide.

PA

"When you look at some of the things to worry about, from water security to extreme heat, it's really the epicentre."

Matthews and his colleagues analysed global weather station data last year and found that this city and Ras al Khaimah, near Dubai, have both temporarily passed the deadly threshold over which humans can no longer sustain themselves.

According to the researchers, these thresholds have been hit 'decades ahead of predictions from climate change models', suggesting things will only get worse.

To carry out the research, the scientists looked at 'wet bulb' temperature readings. These are taken using a thermometer that is covered in wet cloth, so it can take into account heat and humidity.

Due to how these temperatures are taken, they are usually much lower than 'dry bulb' temperatures.

Researchers told the Telegraph, a wet bulb reading of more than 35C can be fatal in a 'few hours' as the body is unable to cool itself by sweating.

Jacobabad has crossed that milestone several times - first back in 1987 and more recently in July 2012.

Although it only hit this deadly marker for 'a few hours' - a three-day average temperature in June 2010 and July 2012 was recorded at around 34C - with the dry bulb temperature often topping 50C in the summer months.

PA

Those who live there have little choice but to stay put, with one resident telling the Telegraph: "People are aware that the heat is getting up and up, but they are poor people.

"They can't go anywhere, they can't leave their places.

"I myself have been thinking about shifting, but have never got around to it."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, climate change