Southern Europe suffers in heat wave, with record-high temperatures forecast

ROME — Swathes of southern Europe continue to experience extreme heat, with warnings that record-high temperatures could be reached in some places this week.

In Italy, those record highs could come as soon as Tuesday, with Sicily and Sardinia forecast to reach 48 degrees C. Italy’s record temperature is 48.8 C, set two years ago. Some 60 percent of Italy is likely to top 40 C this week, with the government issuing a red alert for 20 of the country’s 27 main cities for Tuesday and warning of a risk to health, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable.  

A study by the Institute of Global Health published in Nature Medicine journal found that 18,000 Italians died in the Europe-wide heatwave last summer, the most among the 35 countries studied. 

Hospital emergency departments and calls to emergency numbers have seen an uptick in use of around 20 percent in recent days, according to local media. Power outages hit parts of Rome on Monday as electricity grids experienced heavy demand from air conditioners. Farmers’ lobby Coldiretti issued an alert about the danger to domestic and farm animals, reporting that milk production in cows was down 10 percent. 

The Ministry of Health has urged residents to dress in linen and stay indoors between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and to avoid alcohol, fizzy drinks and coffee. The city of Rome has offered free entry to swimming pools for those over 70.  

The southern Spanish region of Andalusia is also at “extreme risk” due to temperatures as high as 44 C, warned the Spanish state Meteorological Agency. 

On the island of La Palma, 4,000 people had to be evacuated due to raging wildfires, reported Reuters. The fire started on Saturday morning and spiralled out of control, affecting 4,650 hectares. Wildfires also broke out on the neighboring island of Tenerife, resulting in the evacuation of 50 people. 

On Monday, two large wildfires broke out close to Athens, with many residents forced to leave the area, as strong winds are pushing the flames toward the south coast of Attica, reported local media.

Greece is expecting temperatures to hit 44 C later this week, reported local media. On Friday, the Acropolis — the country’s most popular tourist attraction — was closed to protect waiting tourists from the heat.