Spain ravaged by forest fires, as France prepares for record-breaking heat

A woman uses a fan to cool down at the Luxembourg Gardens as an early heatwave hits the country, in Paris. (Photo: Reuters)

Extreme heat engulfing Western Europe this weekend is likely a "taste of things to come," according to climate experts and meteorologists.

Temperature records may be smashed during the hot weekend in France, Spain, and Italy.

On Friday, the temperature surpassed 40 degrees Celsius in portions of France, making it the warmest June day ever in 11 different regions. On Saturday, the temperature could reach 42 degrees Celsius.

In Toulouse, the heat is so intense that the health ministry has activated a special helpline, and the Red Cross delivers fresh water to the homeless out of worry that people will perish in the intense heat.

Spraying care facilities with water to keep patients cool over the weekend, the Gironde department has canceled all outside festivities.

Meteo France scientist Matthieu Sorel stated, "This is the earliest heatwave France has ever recorded."

He continued that it was a "marker of climate change," with "many monthly or even all-time temperature records likely to be broken over the weekend in several regions."

In Spain, about 9,000 hectares of land have been consumed by forest fires in the northwestern Sierra de la Culebra region this week, forcing approximately 200 residents to evacuate.

Due to a neighboring blaze, an additional 3,000 guests were evacuated from the Puy du Fou amusement park in central Spain on Friday.

Several cities in northern Italy have declared water rationing, and the province of Lombardy may declare a state of emergency as a record drought threatens harvests.

"As a result of climate change, heatwaves are beginning sooner," said Clare Nullis, a spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organisation in Geneva.

She said, "Unfortunately, what we are witnessing today is a glimpse of the future."

The United Kingdom, meantime, is experiencing a slightly cooler weekend after achieving its hottest day of the year on Friday, when temperatures in certain parts of the country hit over 30 degrees Celsius.

Publish : 2022-06-18 20:39:00

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