18 July 2023 , 20:01
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The heatwave still gripping parts of southern Europe sparked wildfires that sent people fleeing for their lives and plunged holidays into chaos.
In terrifying scenes that drum home the reality of the climate crisis, a Greek policeman was seen carrying a child to safety as fires raged near the capital Athens as a ferocious and intense heatwave has scorched southern Europe.
As Brits begin to jet off their summer breaks in Europe, experts warned the extreme heat could continue for a further nine days, especially in parts of Italy.
The most severe fire is in the Dervenochoria region in Greece with smoke billowing from the area seen on satellite imagery, while 1,200 children were evacuated from a seaside resort as the fires spread by shifting winds.
The EU sending firefighting planes to Greece as the country attempts to tackle the blazes after they spread to several fronts in the greater Athens area stretched forces thin.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Firemen battle the wildfire in the settlement of Irini, near the resort town of Loutraki, some 80 kilometres east of Athens (AFP via Getty Images)Today the mercury reached 46.3C in Sicily, while the highest ever temperature for Catalonia in Spain has provisionally been exceeded, with 45.2C recorded at the tourist resort of Figueres.
The weather agency Meteocat reports that 31 stations in the region reported new highs of above the highest of 43C.
Temperatures in Rome hit 41.8C on Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 40.7C set in June 2022. Sicily reached about 41C and there were highs of 45C in Sardinia.
Europe’s highest recorded temperature of 48.8C was registered in Sicily two years ago.
The European Space Agency has forecast the temperature to climb to 48°C on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.
In the southern city of Naples, the Cardarelli hospital said 231 patients had accessed emergency care there within the last 24 hours – the equivalent of one patient every six minutes and the highest daily number reached since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Around the Mediterranean, temperatures are rising well above the average over the coming week, with many spots likely to see temperatures higher than 40 degrees (Met office)Brits Sally and Steve Urwin and their two teenage sons abandoned their £2.5k Greek holiday in Rhodes three days early because of the unbearable Cerberus heatwave.
The extreme heat might put you off travelling to southern Europe but your rights to cancel are very limited. Experts point out that weather is an extraordinary circumstance outside of the control of an airline, holiday company or insurance provider.
Beijing also topped its record for high-temperature days in a year, with 27 days, as a heatwave sweeps through the Chinese capital, with a high of 35.1C. The previous record for high-temperature days in a year was 26 days, logged in 2000.
A gazelle escapes from wildfire as the extinguishing works continue by land and air in Canakkale, Turkey (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Arizona’s state capital, Phoenix, was also expected to have a record-breaking 19th consecutive day of highs of at least 110F (43.3C), as the US is sweltering in a record-breaking summer affecting millions of people.
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John Nairn, senior heat advisor at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said he is not surprised by the high temperatures, and what we’re seeing now is on track with what global scientists have predicted for some time.
He explained that people need to be cautious and aware of the minimum temperatures, as well as the maximums.
A tourist drinks water as she and a man sit under an umbrella in front of the five century BC Parthenon temple at the Acropolis hill during a heatwave (AP)“The longer that people endure high night-time temperatures is more of a problem. If you can’t get relief from those very high temperatures during the day, then people won’t get the recovery they need,” he said.
Simon King, BBC meteorologist, warned that the current situation is far more widespread and serious than just normal summer temperatures.
He said: “The heat across southern Europe, North America, North Africa and parts of Asia is setting all sorts of local and national records - not only for the maximum temperatures observed, but also for how long the heat has lasted.
“Sustained intense heat by day, and by night, is dangerous and can have significant health impacts, even to normally healthy people.”