Heatwave hits South American countries ahead of New Year holiday

While celebrating the coming of the New Year, many South American countries are undergoing an unprecedented heatwave with the air temperature running to nearly 40 degrees Celsius, which has posed challenges to urban operations and public safety.

On Wednesday, in downtown Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, the outdoor ground temperature exceeded 42 degrees Celsius under the sun, and nearly 39 degrees Celsius even in the shade. Amid the persistent heat, the number of pedestrians on the streets noticeably decreased, with many choosing to seek refuge in air-conditioned indoor spaces.

According to weather forecasts, the current heatwave in Argentina may continue until early January 2026. The Argentine National Meteorological Service has issued a high-temperature warning, urging the public to avoid going out during midday and afternoon, stay hydrated, and take precautions against heatstroke.

"My blood pressure suddenly dropped while I was working yesterday, and I felt like I was about to faint. Luckily, someone came to help me, gave me some water, and I rested for a while before I recovered," said Bruno Sandoval, a local bicycle deliveryman.

The persistent heatwave has also affected how Argentinians celebrate the New Year's Day. Many families have chosen to stay indoors and have even changed their holiday diet to cope with the heat.

"We are trying to eat non-fatty foods now. In the past, we would often eat high-calorie snacks like candied nuts and sugar for the New Year holiday. But this time, we'll prepare plenty of fruit, drink lots of water, and try to avoid high-temperature environments even at night. We'll stay calm and patiently cope with the heat," said local resident Elina Figaro.

The wide use of air conditioners and fans led to a surge in pressure on the country's power grid. Late on Tuesday, a substation malfunction caused by an overloaded power grid triggered a massive power outage in the Argentine capital and surrounding areas, leaving over 40,000 households without power, including the presidential palace.

In Chile, the New Year holiday has also been accompanied by extreme heat. The capital, Santiago, and many central regions issued red heat warnings, with the government classifying the heatwave as an extreme weather event.

The combination of high temperatures and dry weather significantly increased the risk of forest fire, prompting authorities to enter a state of high alert and urging the public to avoid using open flames.

Heatwave hits South American countries ahead of New Year holiday

Heatwave hits South American countries ahead of New Year holiday

The airstrike conducted by Saudi-led coalition targeting the port of Mukalla in Yemen's oil-rich Hadramout province early Tuesday morning has caused severe damage to nearby residential buildings and left locals terrified.

According to the coalition, the strike targeted weapons and combat vehicles allegedly unloaded at the port from two unauthorized ships that arrived from the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the weekend.

Coalition spokesman Turki Al Maliki said the vessels had disabled their tracking systems and delivered a large cache of arms intended to bolster the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen's Hadramout and Al-Mahra provinces, a move he described as a "clear violation" of the UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015.

He said the operation was conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules, ensuring that no collateral damage occurred.

However, local residents offered a different account, describing scenes of chaos and destruction in the pre-dawn hours following the strike.

"As you can see, this is the severe damage that occurred to our home as a result of the airstrike that targeted the Mukalla port, specifically military vehicles that were next to the house, about 20 to 40 meters away. At exactly 04:30, the location was targeted with a surprise airstrike, and we were shocked by the sudden violent explosions," said Salem Ali Al-Haj Zaid, a local resident.

Another resident, Um Ali, described the psychological toll on children.

"The children kept crying from the time of the strike until morning. Poor things, they were shocked, scared and unable to sleep again," said Ali.

The strike hit especially hard for Um Mohammed, a widow living on the top floor of a residential building near the port.

"We were terrified. My mother is old. The most damage was to the floor of the building where I live, and I am a widow. Who will compensate us for this?" said Mohammed.

The reported attacks come amid heightened military escalation in Hadramout, where Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have warned of possible military action following the STC's refusal to withdraw its forces from the governorate.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition called on all civilians to immediately evacuate the port of Mukalla to ensure their safety, according to the Saudi state news agency SPA.

Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout governorate, is a key port city on Yemen's southeastern coast, with strategic and economic value.

Saudi-led airstrike on Yemen's Mukalla port damages homes, sparking fear among locals