Southern Europe endures deadly heatwave and widespread wildfires

Southern Europe is experiencing a heatwave caused by hot air masses from Africa. In many countries of the region, temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celcius. The heat has already led to the deaths of at least a dozen people. The high temperatures also favour the spread of fires.

In Italy, which is experiencing severe heat, high temperatures are predicted to persist until the end of July. Due to high temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celcius, the highest level three alert has been introduced in 12 cities. On Wednesday, the most serious warning was issued for 13 cities, including Rome, Ancona, Bologna, Campobasso, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Palermo, Trieste, and Viterbo.

Several dozen fires broke out in Spain at the start of the week. High temperatures and strong winds favour their spread. Meteorologists predict that from Wednesday, temperatures may exceed 40 degrees in several regions of the country, especially in the centre and south.

Greece already experienced extremely high temperatures in June, sometimes exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit, although in this month they are usually no higher than 86-88 degrees. It was the hottest June in Greece since 1960, as the National Observatory in Athens reported. Currently, in the country, which experiences tragic fires annually due to heat, a ban on certain outdoor work, such as construction, has been introduced during the hottest times of the day. The peak of the heat is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures may reach even 43 degrees Celcius.

According to the meteorological portal La Chaine Meteo, temperatures in southern France are expected to reach 34 degrees Celcius on Wednesday and, in some places, may rise to 39 degrees on Thursday. However, they should drop to around 23 degrees during the day in the coming days.

Hungary's entire territory is under the highest level three heat alert until Thursday, announced a week and a half ago. Due to the high temperatures, reaching up to 40 degrees Celcius, the airport in Debrecen in the east of the country was temporarily closed due to runway damage.

This week, temperatures in the capitals of Romania and Moldova, Bucharest and Chisinau, exceeded 40 degrees Celcius. In Romania, the highest heatwave alert is still in effect in over half the country, and meteorologists warn of temperatures reaching 42 degrees. The perceived temperature is higher, especially in inland cities. Thermometers will show a few degrees less on the coast in the coming days.

For the second week, temperatures in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been around 40 degrees Celcius, but the heatwave is expected to end in the next few days.

The government of North Macedonia announced on Sunday the introduction of a state of emergency for 30 days. Temperatures in this country reach 42 degrees. As reported by AP, there have been about 200 fires in the country since the beginning of the month, including in hard-to-reach areas in the mountains, and the prime minister announced he would seek help from international partners.

The coastal city of Dubrovnik in Croatia recorded the highest sea temperature in the country's history on Monday—30 degrees Celcius. This broke the record from the island of Rab, where in 2015, the seawater temperature was also 30 degrees. Most of the country is under the highest possible weather alert regarding exceptionally high temperatures. At the beginning of the week, they reached 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Albania, over 40-degree heat led to the death of a 72-year-old man who was found on his farm, located 124 miles south of the capital, Tirana. High temperatures combined with strong winds also contribute to the development of fires.

As Euronews reminded, due to extreme heat, four people died in Italy this week, and the previous month's heatwave led to the deaths of six tourists in Greece.