16 July 2023 , 23:09
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Brit holidaymakers travelling to southern Europe face blistering temperatures with 16 cities on red alert and mass evacuations in the Canary Islands from wildfire.
People escaping the wind and rain of the UK are being hit by extreme conditions in holiday hotspots like Spain, Italy and Greece with meteorologists warning that the mercury could reach record highs.
An anticyclone dubbed Charon has seen temperatures already hit the mid 40Cs in Italy and 16 cities have been put on red alerts today. “We need to prepare for a severe heat storm,” said Italian weather service Meteo.it.
And Italy’s Health Minister Orazio Schillaci advised people to keep out of the sun and not see the Roman ruins. “Going to the Colosseum when it is 43C is not advisable, especially for an elderly person,” he told Il Messaggero.
Firefighters tackle forest fires on La Palma (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)At the same time there have been ferocious fires on La Palma, in the Spanish Canary Islands, that have forced the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents.
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The blaze, which started on Saturday, has affected an area of about 4,600 hectares and burned some 20 houses and buildings. Authorities urged people not to go near the area on the north-west side of the island.
More than 300 firefighters have been deployed and nine water-carrying helicopters and two planes are being used to try to extinguish the fire.
The emergency services are working in extreme heat (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)A further 86 members of the army's Military Emergency Unit were flown to the island on Sunday.
Fernando Clavijo, Canary Islands president, wrote on Twitter: “Each minute is crucial in the fight against the forest fires in La Palma.
"It is vital to maintain the coordination between the authorities tackling it and the public follows the advice from official channels.”
Vicente Rodriguez, mayor of Puntagorda town close to where the fire started, said that the area has seen below-average rainfall in recent years, just like large parts of the drought-stricken mainland Spain, because of changing weather patterns impacted by climate change.
A burnt out car on La Palma (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)The drought has left the wooded, hilly terrain tinder-dry. Meanwhile, in Greece the Acropolis was closed to protect tourists on Friday and there have also been wildfires in the woodland of Canakkale in Turkey.
Britons have been advised to stay hydrated, apply sun cream and avoid being in the sun at midday while on holiday.
Forecaster Simon Partridge said: "It's a massive shock to the system when you're there, so give yourself a chance to get used to the heat."
The Foreign Office recommended people check travel advice on its website.
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