Record-breaking Heatwave Grips Europe: A Scorching Summer Takeover

Europe Sizzles as Record-breaking Heatwave Hits Multiple Countries

A severe heatwave, unprecedented in its scope, has taken hold of Europe, with a record number of heat alerts issued across France and other countries in southern and eastern Europe. The blistering heat has been causing widespread disruptions and posing serious health risks.

Orange Alerts in France

According to France's Climate Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the current situation is 'unprecedented.' As many as 84 out of 96 mainland regions, known as departments, are currently under an orange alert, the country's second highest.

Impact on Other Countries

Heat warnings are also in effect for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, the UK, and Balkan countries like Croatia. Both Spain and Portugal recorded their hottest June days on record over the weekend, with temperatures reaching 46°C in El Granado, Andalucía, and 46.6°C in Mora, central Portugal.

Emergency Measures and Closures

Many countries have emergency medical services on standby and are urging people to stay indoors as much as possible. Nearly 200 schools across France have been closed or partially closed due to the heatwave, which has persisted for more than a week and is expected to peak mid-week.

Forest Fires and Evacuations

Several forest fires have broken out in the southern Corbières mountain range in France, leading to evacuations and the closure of a motorway. While these fires have since been contained, they serve as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by the heatwave.

Italy, UK, and Other Affected Countries

In Italy, 21 cities, including Rome, Milan, and Venice, are on the highest alert level, as are parts of the UK, where temperatures could reach 34°C or higher on Monday. In Spain, which is on course to record its hottest June on record, the heat alerts continue.

Health Concerns and Impact on Daily Life

People in affected areas are reporting difficulties sleeping, insomnia, and heatstroke. Anabel Sanchez, a 21-year-old in Seville, Spain, summed up the situation, saying, "I can't sleep well and have insomnia. I also get heat strokes, I stop eating and I just can't focus."

Environmental Impact

The heatwave is not only affecting human health but also the environment. Higher temperatures in the Adriatic Sea are encouraging invasive species such as the poisonous lionfish, while also causing further stress on alpine glaciers that are already shrinking at record rates.

Climate Change and the Future

The UN's human rights chief, Volker Turk, has warned that the heatwave underscores the need for climate adaptation, moving away from practices and energy sources that contribute to climate change. Heatwaves are becoming more common due to human-caused climate change, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Professor Richard Allan, a Climate Scientist at the University of Reading in the UK, explained that rising greenhouse gas levels are making it harder for the planet to lose excess heat, leading to more intense heatwaves.

Stay tuned for more updates as Europe navigates through this extreme heatwave.