A record-breaking heatwave has tightened its grip on Italy and the Balkans, killing hundreds of people, fuelling wildfire fears and disrupting daily life across Europe.
In Italy, authorities placed 22 cities under red heat warnings, from Bolzano in the north to Palermo on Sicily. At the Vatican, pilgrims used fans and umbrellas to shield themselves from the heat as Pope Leo delivered his Angelus message.
Croatia’s weather service issued red alerts for several regions, including the capital Zagreb and the tourist cities of Split and Dubrovnik. On the Adriatic island of Vis, dozens of firefighters battled a wildfire burning through pine forests.
Much of the Balkans also remained under extreme heat, with temperatures above 35°C forecast across parts of Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Hungary. In neighbouring Albania, firefighters managed to contain a wildfire near the village of Klos.
Italian Meteorological Society president Luca Mercalli noted that extreme heat increases the risk of forest fires, but rainstorms can mitigate that risk. However, storms are localised and rainfall varies.
Forecasters say the heat is far from over. Italian Air Force meteorologist Daniele Mocio said current temperatures are expected to persist, staying 8-10°C above average for several more days.
Although Western Europe has seen some relief after record June temperatures, Mercalli said another surge of hot weather is expected from July 5-6, affecting France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and parts of Britain.
The heatwave, which began on June 20, has strained healthcare systems, damaged infrastructure and disrupted power generation. The World Health Organization reports 1,300 excess deaths across Europe since June 21.
France has reported 1,000 excess deaths linked to the heatwave. French media reported that funeral homes in Paris and the surrounding region struggled to cope with the number of bodies.
Scientists said the heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average.
Source: www.aljazeera.com