The world's hottest city has fish boil in the sea and 'baked' birds fall dead from the sky

Birds are dropping dead from the sky and fish are literally cooking in the oceans in what's been dubbed the world's hottest city . Kuwait City, once celebrated as the "Marseilles of the Gulf" for its bustling fishing industry and sun-kissed beaches, now paints a starkly different picture.

The city that used to lure sunbathers has turned into an inferno where even the sea offers no respite from the searing heat. Gone are the glory days for this Gulf hub as Kuwait City's decline is due to a scorching reality rather than economic woes. While US coastal charm has been swapped for slot machines and weathered storefronts, Kuwait City's transformation is all about the mercury levels.

The Mitribah weather station in northern Kuwait hit the thermometers with a raging 129F on July 21, 2016 , marking it as the third-highest temperature ever recorded globally. Alarm bells are ringing louder than ever as climate experts caution that Kuwait is warming up at an alarming rate, with forecasts showing a potential increase of 10F by the century's end compared to the early 2000s. In 2021, the country endured over 122F heat for 19 consecutive days, a daunting record that might just be toppled this year, reports the Mirror .

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Kuwait City, a landscape dominated by harsh concrete and asphalt, is becoming increasingly uninhabitable due to extreme heat. During the summer months, stepping outside can be perilous. Scientific evidence indicates that the already arid nation is receiving less rainfall each year, resulting in more frequent and severe dust storms.

There have been alarming incidents of blisteringly hot birds dropping dead from the sky and seahorses being boiled alive in the bay. Even the most resilient pigeons are seeking shelter from the sun's intense heat. Temperatures reaching 129F are not just uncomfortable, they're hazardous. These temperatures are 55F above body temperature and can lead to serious health complications such as heat exhaustion, heart problems, and even death if exposure is prolonged.

In an unprecedented move, the Kuwaiti government has permitted funerals to take place at night this year due to the scorching heat. Those who can afford it now rarely venture outdoors, preferring to remain in the cool comfort of their air-conditioned homes, offices, or shopping malls.

The current climate has spurred the development of futuristic infrastructure, such as an indoor shopping street adorned with palm trees and European-style stores, offering shoppers a sanctuary from the brutal weather.

A 2020 study revealed that a whopping two-thirds (67%) of home electricity consumption is attributed to air conditioning units running around the clock. ExpatsExchange's Joshua Wood praised the "high quality of life" in this "modern, luxurious and safe" nation, but cautioned about the extreme temperatures, describing the heat as "very hot from May through September" and reaching "insanely hot" levels during June, July, and August.

Despite the scorching temperatures, Kuwait's streets are bustling. The country's workforce is heavily comprised of migrant laborers, hailing primarily from Arab, South, and Southeast Asian countries, who represent about 70% of the population.

Drawn by the often-criticized kafala system, these individuals come to work in industries such as construction and domestic services. They fill the sweltering public buses and throng the city streets.

Last year, research from the Institute of Physics pointed out that migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to adverse health effects due to the extreme heat. The study warns that by the end of the century, climate change could lead to an increase in heat-related mortality by 5.1% to 11.7% among the general population, and potentially up to 15% among non-Kuwaiti residents.

Despite global climate warnings often going unheeded, the impact of climate change is starkly evident in Kuwait - a country with a colossal carbon footprint, surpassed only by Bahrain and Qatar.

While neighboring countries have committed to significant emissions reductions, Kuwait's pledges are lacking. At COP26, the country announced only a small reduction (7.4%) by 2035, despite Kuwaiti government officials predicting energy demand to triple by 2030, primarily due to increased indoor cooling usage.

The government subsidizes much of the electricity costs, so people are not inclined to conserve. A similar system exists for water, which is sourced through energy-intensive processes.

Environmental expert Salman Zafar warned: "Kuwait could be potentially facing serious impacts of global warming in the form of floods, droughts, depletion of aquifers, inundation of coastal areas, frequent sandstorms, loss of biodiversity, significant damage to ecosystem, threat to agricultural production and outbreak of diseases."