by Rome (AP) – Large heat waves in southern Europe have promoted the temperatures above 40 ° C (104 f) in countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece when the local authorities published new warnings about the risk of forest fires.
Experts combine the increasing frequency and intensity of these heat waves with climate change and warn that such extreme weather events in the southern region of Europe are becoming increasingly common.
Before the weekend, heavy heat waves were recorded in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal, whereby locals and tourists were also looking for protection against the enthusiastic conditions.
Two thirds of Portugal were high alarm for extreme heat and forest fires on Sunday, whereby the temperatures in Lisbon are expected to adopt 42 ° C (107 f).
In Italy, some regions lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Hupe and Umbria, some outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day were planned to respond to the record temperatures. The Italian unions urged the government to expand such measures at the national level.
On Sunday, the Italian Ministry of Health presented 21 of 27 monitored cities under its highest heat warning, including top holiday goals such as Rome, Milan and Naples.
In Rome, tourists tried to search shade near popular places such as the Colosseum and the Trevi fountain by using umbrellas and drinking from public water wells to stay cool.
Similar scenes were reported in Milan and Naples, in which street sellers sold lemonade to tourists and residents to offer refreshment through the heat.
Greece was again in high forest fire alarm due to the extreme weather. The first summer heat wave is expected to continue all weekend.
A large forest fire broke out on Thursday south of Athens and forced evacuations and road closures near the old temple of Poseidon. Strong winds distribute the flames, damage houses and send smoke across the sky.
The Greek authorities used 130 firefighters, 12 aircraft and 12 helicopters to fight against the fire, while the police evacuated 40 people with five areas under evacuation commands.
In Spain, locals and tourists desperately tried to stay cool this weekend, since the country in the southern city of Seville sizzled up to 42 ° C (107 f) together with other locations in southern and central parts of the country in the southern city of Sevilla.
The southern regions of Spain recorded the temperatures above the average seasonal and initiated health warnings and security recommendations from the authorities. The country’s national meteorological service, Aemet, has explained that June is supposed to break another record and the hottest month has become since the beginning of the records.
Experts warned that intensive heat can influence everyday life, especially for population groups in need of protection such as older people and children.
The local authorities advised against physical activity in the hottest hours of day and recommended that you drink a lot of fluid.
A study for public health in Lancet published last year showed the increasing risk of deaths in connection with heat due to climate change. The study predicted that heat -related deaths could quadruple in current climate policy more than four times than in the middle of the century.
While more people die from cold than heat, the study emphasized that rising temperatures compensate for the advantages of milder winter, which leads to a significant net increase in the heat -related mortality.
