Deadly extremes grip the globe as snow, heat, and storms wreak havoc
Extreme weather has swept the globe this week, bringing devastating consequences. From record-breaking snowfall in Japan to scorching heat in Australia, communities grapple with severe conditions. At least 35 lives have been lost in Japan alone, while wildfires and storms disrupt life elsewhere.
Japan has been blanketed by unprecedented snow, with depths reaching two metres in Aomori Province. Over the past two weeks, the heavy snow has claimed at least 30 lives. Though eight people were reported missing in Hirakawa on Sunday evening, all were found safe by Monday morning. No further disappearances have been officially recorded.
Meanwhile, Australia is battling a brutal heatwave, with Melbourne's temperatures nearing 50°C. The extreme heat has sparked multiple bushfires in Victoria, forcing over a thousand households to evacuate. Across the Tasman, Argentina continues to fight wildfires in Patagonia, where flames have already consumed over 200,000 hectares of land.
In Europe, Winter Storm Kristin has left Portugal in crisis. The government declared a state of emergency after the storm cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes and killed at least five people. Berlin, too, is struggling with freezing conditions, as temperatures drop to –9°C and black ice causes widespread accidents.
The U.S. has also faced repeated winter storms, with record snowfall leaving more than 150,000 households without power. Switzerland, however, has seen unusually mild weather, with daytime temperatures climbing above 10°C this week.
The extreme conditions show no immediate signs of easing in many regions. Japan's snow disaster has already caused dozens of deaths, while Australia's heatwave and fires force mass evacuations. Storms and cold snaps continue to disrupt daily life in Europe and North America, leaving authorities and residents on high alert.
