Image@ Reuters
Italy and the Balkans experienced the brunt of a relentless heatwave on Monday, which has led to hundreds of excess fatalities and significant disruptions across the continent for over a week.
Authorities are increasingly worried about the potential for wildfires as temperatures soar.
Meteorologists have warned that heat is expected to intensify again from the beginning of next week in countries like France and Germany, which recently faced extreme conditions.
In Italy, a red heat alert was issued for 22 cities, stretching from Bolzano in the north to Palermo on Sicily.
At the Vatican, pilgrims sought relief from the oppressive heat using fans and umbrellas while Pope Leo delivered his Angelus message from a balcony during the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, a public holiday in Rome.
In Croatia, the national weather service issued a red alert for areas including the capital Zagreb and popular tourist spots such as Split and Dubrovnik.
Firefighters, supported by four aircraft, battled a wildfire consuming pine forests on the tourist island of Vis, located approximately 34 miles (55 km) southwest of Split.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s State Hydrometeorological Service (RHMZ) reported temperatures soaring to 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday.
Further south, Albania worked to control a wildfire that devastated numerous hectares of bushes and olive trees near the village of Klos over the weekend.
Scientists have characterized the heatwave, which began on June 20, as the most severe recorded in Europe.
The extreme conditions have disrupted power generation, damaged infrastructure, and strained healthcare systems.
France has reported approximately 1,000 excess deaths attributed to the heatwave.
The French public health agency indicated that most victims were elderly and cautioned that fatalities could increase.
Experts assert that the heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” without human-induced climate change, which has made this week’s soaring night-time temperatures 100 times more probable than they would have been two decades ago.
Luca Mercalli, president of Italy’s Meteorological Society, stated that temperatures are predicted to rise again from July 5-6.
”The regions impacted will largely mirror those affected during the first wave, including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and to some extent, Britain,” he told Reuters.
”With extreme heat comes an increased risk of wildfires; however, we are also observing localized rainstorms that can mitigate that risk,” he noted, emphasizing that rainfall amounts can vary significantly.
Tragedies linked to the heat were reported over the weekend.
Two boys aged 8 and 10 from Bulgaria were discovered deceased in a hot vehicle in Cyprus on Sunday afternoon.
Currently, Cyprus is experiencing temperatures around 38°C, which is not considered a heatwave for this time of year.
Additionally, two cyclists, a 30-year-old and a 71-year-old, lost their lives while participating in an event in the Poland Bike Marathon series in Marki near Warsaw on Sunday.
Poland recorded a new high temperature of 40.5°C on the same day.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong