Heat wave sweeps across Lebanon this week July 25, 2011 02:05 AM The Daily Star
A young girl jumps into Sidon's Awali River. Mohammed Zaatari. -7-24-2011
BEIRUT: Lebanon is heading for a heat wave this week, according to the
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, which warned the public to
take the necessary precautions to protest themselves, and the country.
The Bekaa Valley-based institute said that the heat wave, which will
arrive Monday and is expected to last through the end of July, would
increase the chances of forest fires throughout the country.
According to the National News Agency, the institute said temperatures
would range from 35 degrees Celsius on the coast to 38 degrees Celsius
in the Bekaa region.Thousands of square meters of woodland were
affected by last year's unseasonably warm temperatures which lasted
through the month of December. Last year's forest fires raised concern
and awareness of the issue, prompting officials to take proper
measures.
With the heat wave predicted to hit Lebanon Monday, the center is
calling on everyone in the country to behave with caution to prevent
forest fires and asking the country's Civil Defense Forces to be in a
state of readiness to respond to forest fires.
The institute also urged Lebanese to wear hats, avoid exposure to the
sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., increase their consumption of water
and use sun screen protection throughout the day.
The warning issued also asked farmers to reduce their use of
fertilizers in green houses and increase irrigation in the morning
hours of the day.
Farmers should also allow movement of air through the green houses to
avoid the accumulation of heat inside, the NNA reported the institute
as saying.
The agency said truck drivers should be careful and work to avoid the
excessive use of brakes.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Jul-25/Heat-wave-sweeps-across-Lebanon-this-week.ashx#ixzz1T83ZNuNP
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
