Extreme heat continues to scorch… Resorts are being evacuated

It looks like the heat, which has kicked in since last week, will continue to scorch for a while. The Yetis expect the highest temperatures to be recorded in Sardinia, with the climate today reaching 47°C, approaching the European record of 48.8°C set in Sicily two years ago.

World Meteorological Organization officials estimate that extreme heat may continue into August in some places. The UN said new temperature records were broken in some parts of the northern hemisphere.

“Even if the record of 48.8°C is not broken, we are seeing an unprecedented heat wave,” said Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society.

FOREST FIRES STARTED

Extreme heat negatively affects not only people but also nature. As forest fires raged, police ordered the evacuation of many mountain villages in the latest fire in Switzerland. About 200 firefighters, the army and the police worked to put out the flames in the afternoon.

On the island of La Palma it was announced that at least 4,000 people had to be evacuated due to the forest fire that got out of control after the heat wave.

In Greece, which registered a temperature of 44°C on Monday, the bushfire, which started just 30 miles from the capital Athens, spread south to the coastal resorts of Lagonisi, Anavyssos and Saronida, with authorities saying the area must be evacuated. A second bushfire also broke out near Corinth, near the popular seaside town of Loutraki. According to the information provided by the mayor of the town; So far, authorities have rescued 1,200 children from holiday camps in the region.

In the fire that broke out in Switzerland, the police ordered the evacuation of many mountain villages.

Some 150 firefighters, seven water pumps and four helicopters reportedly battled both fires, along with 30 Romanian emergency services workers.

Fire spokesman Yiannis Artopios said strong and fluctuating winds were slowing efforts to extinguish both fires: “Conditions are constantly changing. We have ordered multiple evacuations.”

In Catania, Sicily, the airport was closed until Wednesday due to a fire that broke out on Sunday night. Firefighters said they were able to get the fire under control about 90 minutes after they were called.

In Greece, the wildfire, which started just 30 miles from the capital Athens, spread south to the seaside resorts of Lagonisi, Anavyssos and Saronida.

Warnings were also issued about the risk of forest fires in Spain, and it was stated that night-time temperatures across the country were unlikely to drop below 25°C. Furthermore, the heat wave is expected to intensify further. .

On the island of La Palma, for its part, at least 4,000 people had to be evacuated due to the fire that got out of control after the heat wave. The fire, which started on Saturday, burned some 4,600 hectares and destroyed some 20 homes and buildings.

RECORD IS EXPECTED IN SPAIN, ITALY AND GREECE

The authorities expect the heat wave to continue in the coming days. While Italy is expected to experience temperatures above 48.8C, there are warnings that record levels may be reached in Spain and Greece.

The World Meteorological Organization said the hot weather was likely to continue until August in parts of southern Europe.

AUTHORITIES ALERT, STREETS AND BEACHES ARE EMPTY

The extreme temperatures also affected tourism. According to the Daily Mail news, the British authorities have also warned their citizens that they prefer Turkey, Italy, Greece and Spain for their holidays. He even informed the citizens of this region by stating that the temperature will reach 45°C in the city of Antalya, Turkey, by the end of the week.

In Spanish cities, the streets were empty; While tourists sought refuge in Seville, Madrid suspended street cleaning services and sheltered the homeless in unbearable temperatures. In Portugal, vacationers left the beaches empty due to the heat.

And tourists in Italy have been warned to prepare for one of the busiest summer heat waves, as well as one of the most intense heat waves of all time.

16 RED WARNING TO THE CITY

Temperatures are forecast to reach 49°C on the Italian island of Sardinia. The previous record of 48.8°C is expected to come close to the previous record of 48.8°C recorded in Floridia, Sicily on August 11, 2021. Health officials have also issued a red weather warning for 16 cities, including Rome, where temperatures are expected to reach a record 43°C.

The red weather alert means that the heat poses a risk to the health of the entire population.

Italy’s weather service Meteo.it said on Sunday: “We need to prepare for a strong hot storm that will cover the whole country day after day. In some places, old temperature records will be broken,” it said.

Italian Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said people should be careful when visiting Rome: “It is not recommended to go to the Colosseum when it is 43C, especially for an elderly person.”

The world has warmed an average of about 1.2°C since the mid-19th century. In June, global sea surface temperatures reached record levels. Antarctic sea ice has reached its lowest level in a month since satellite observations began, 17 percent below average.