As Southern Europe experiences its first severe heatwave this summer and as experts attribute climate change to rising frequency and intensity, local authorities have issued new warnings against the risk of wildfires and to residents to seek shelter.
Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal experienced severe heatwaves over the weekend and into Sunday, with both locals and visitors battling the sweltering weather.
Nearby tourist hotspots had ambulances on standby.
On Sunday, Portugal was on high alert for wildfires and extreme heat, with Lisbon’s expected high temperatures of 42C (107F) expected.
In Lisbon, pharmacist Sofia Monnteiro, 39, told the AFP news agency that “we have already had some cases of heat strokes and burns” despite warning people to stay indoors during the day’s hottest hours.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) issued a red warning for several southern regions of Portugal up until Monday night because of “persistently extremely high maximum temperature values.”
In a number of nations, firefighters gathered to fight blazes. On Sunday, fires broke out in France and Turkiye, and authorities from other nations were also on high alert.
On Sunday, extreme heat and forest fires abound in Portugal, just like they did on Sicily, where firefighters battled 15 fires on Saturday.
In response to the record-breaking high temperatures, a few regions in Italy, including Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia, and Umbria, planned to outlaw some outdoor work activities. The government was pressured by Italian trade unions to expand these measures nationwide.
The Italian Health Ministry issued the highest heat alert for 21 of the 27 monitored cities on Sunday, including top vacationing spots like Naples and Rome.
According to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, Italy’s hospital emergency departments have seen an increase in cases of heatstroke.
According to him, “we’ve seen around 10% increase, primarily in cities with very high temperatures and higher humidity rates,” he told the AFP.
Dehydration, heat stroke, and fatigue are most prevalent among the elderly, cancer patients, or homeless people.
Greece was once more on a high-risk for wildfires, with a forecast for a weekend heat wave there.
On Thursday, a significant wildfire erupted south of Athens, causing road closures and evacuations close to the site of the prehistoric Temple of Poseidon.
In addition to the fire, Greek police evacuated 40 people, with five locations receiving evacuation orders, while Greek authorities also deployed 12 planes, 12 helicopters, and 12 firefighters to fight the flames.
Locals and visitors to Spain were frantically trying to stay cool as the city’s southern city of Seville and other locations in the country’s south and central regions reached temperatures as high as 42C (107F).
Spain’s southern regions reported temperatures that were above average for the entire year, which issued health alerts and safety recommendations. The country’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has declared that June will set a new record by becoming the hottest month of the year since records began.
The “urban heat island” effect
Due to global warming, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent in the southern region of Europe.
A Lancet Public Health study from last year highlighted the rise in heat-related deaths linked to climate change. According to the study, by the middle of the century, heat-related deaths could have quadrupled.
The study noted that while cold causes more deaths than heat, rising temperatures will offset the advantages of mild winters, leading to a significant net increase in heat-related mortality.
According to scientists, the effects of climate change are creating hotter, more intense heatwaves, particularly in cities where the so-called “urban heat island effect” increases the temperature distribution among densely packed buildings.
According to Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), “The heatwaves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and intense in recent years, with peaks of 37 degrees Celsius and 100 degrees Celsius, or even more in cities.”
Experts have warned that prolonged heat can have a negative impact on daily life, particularly for elderly and young people.
Source: Aljazeera
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