An intense and rare heatwave has disrupted daily life across Uzbekistan, forcing authorities to implement urgent protective measures as temperatures soared to between 42C and 45C across much of the nation. In the country's southern and desert regions, the situation became even more severe, with temperatures climbing to between 46C and 48C. This extreme weather has placed significant pressure on public services and compelled residents to fundamentally adapt their daily routines to cope with the heat.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations has been at the forefront of the response, intensifying public information campaigns to advise residents on how to mitigate the risks of such high temperatures. Murat Sadykov, head of the ministry’s Information Service, emphasized the importance of these awareness efforts. He urged the public to consume as much water as possible and recommended wearing light-colored, preferably white, cotton clothing to better handle the heat. Additionally, the ministry has been organizing cooling activities for children in residential neighborhoods. According to Sadykov, fire and rescue vehicles have been deployed to visit areas where children gather, spraying them with water during the hottest parts of the day to provide relief and boost morale.
In the capital, the Tashkent city administration has taken proactive steps to manage the urban environment. This includes increasing the frequency of water spraying on central and major roads, as well as stepping up the watering of trees and lawns. Furthermore, fountains throughout Tashkent have been switched to continuous operation to help reduce the impact of the prolonged heat in public spaces. Despite these efforts, the sudden spike in temperature has surprised both residents and visitors, many of whom noted that such conditions are highly unusual for this time of year in Uzbekistan.
Altyn Bakiyeva, a visitor from Bishkek in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, expressed her surprise at the intensity of the heat while attending a textile exhibition. She noted that while it is also hot in her home country, the conditions in Uzbekistan are noticeably more severe. To cope, she and others are relying on air-conditioned taxis and hotel facilities, while prioritizing the consumption of cold water. Local resident Odinakhon Akramova shared that families are adjusting their dietary habits, focusing on eating cold watermelons and melons from the refrigerator and preparing only minimal amounts of cooked food to keep cool.
The government's response has involved a broad coordination between municipal services, transport operators, education authorities, and emergency teams. To protect infrastructure, the Tashkent Metro JSC introduced speed restrictions on above-ground sections of the metro, where trains are now operating at 40 kilometers per hour instead of the usual 60 kilometers per hour. This measure was implemented because rail temperatures on elevated sections exceeded the standard limit of 55C, with the restriction remaining in force until 6 pm each day. Similarly, in the southern Surkhandarya Region, the movement of heavy vehicles was restricted on certain roads between 10 am and 7 pm. Regional authorities explained that road surfaces could reach temperatures of 70C to 80C, which weakens asphalt and increases the risk of damage from heavy trucks.
Educational institutions have also faced closures due to the extreme conditions. The Ministry of Preschool and School Education ordered the temporary closure of kindergartens in several of the most affected areas. This includes preschool facilities in Nukus and eight districts of Karakalpakstan, as well as all state-run kindergartens in the Khorezm Region, which were closed from last Tuesday to Friday. Additional restrictions were also introduced in several districts of the Navoi Region. Authorities expect these extreme conditions to ease gradually later this week.
