A historic surge in temperatures has led to a multitude of heat alerts throughout France and various regions in southern and eastern Europe. On Tuesday, 16 regions in France, including Paris, will be under the highest level of alert, known as red alert, while an additional 68 areas are under orange alert.
The alarming situation was described as “unprecedented” by France’s Climate Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher, as 84 of the 96 mainland regions experienced orange alerts on Monday. Similar heat warnings are also in effect across Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and parts of the Balkans.
Spain and Portugal recently recorded their hottest June days ever, with El Granado and Mora reaching 46°C over the weekend. In response to the sweltering conditions, numerous countries have activated emergency medical services and recommended that residents minimize outdoor activity.
Nearly 200 schools in France have either closed or partially shuttered due to the heatwave, which has been persisting for more than a week, with its peak anticipated mid-week. Meanwhile, Italy has also seen 21 cities on the highest alert, and emergency departments are reporting an uptick in heat-related illnesses.
As temperatures soar, natural disasters such as wildfires are rampant in areas like Turkey and Croatia, prompting evacuations. The climate crisis continues to strain both human health and the environment, with rising sea temperatures and melting glaciers amplifying these concerns.
In the Balkans, extreme drought and record-setting high temperatures are creating a challenging scenario, threatening both wildlife and human settlements as the heatwave continues to dominate the region.
Source: www.bbc.com
