Temperatures continue to rise: Southern Europe is sweltering in intense heat

The temperature continues to rise
Southern Europe is sweltering in heat

Pine forests are on fire in front of Bordeaux, other parts of Italy are threatened by a drought emergency, and people are flocking to buy fans in Spain. While the current heat wave in southern Europe is having devastating effects, Germany has been largely spared for now.

A heat wave and persistent drought in southern European holiday countries lead to more and more fires in dry forests. The problem is compounded by temperatures expected to reach 40 degrees in Italy and France in the coming days. Large areas of the holiday island of Sicily and Sardinia are still under heightened forest fire alert. More recently, firefighters have repeatedly responded to forest and bush fires, for example in South Tyrol, Tuscany and in and around Rome.

In France, firefighters on the Atlantic coast battled a large forest fire in pine forests south of Bordeaux. Italy has been experiencing severe drought for several weeks. The government has already declared a state of emergency in five northern regions along the Po River due to drought. Other regions may follow, as Agriculture Minister Stefano Patuanelli announced in parliament.

In France, meteorologists expect drought to be recorded by the end of July. Despite several rainstorms in the second half of June, the effect has largely faded — and the soil is drying out again. Fans are selling wildly in Spain: According to media reports, sales figures in Bilbao, in the north of the country, have risen by more than 50 percent. In 16 of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities, the heat warning should continue today, with a red warning in some of these regions.

Also in Croatia, fire brigades near the Dalmatian town of Šibenik battled a wildfire that hit two villages on the Krka Riviera, popular with holidaymakers, on Wednesday. Residents of Zaton and Raslina were taken to safety by boats across Stubalj Bay. The situation is worse than it has been in ten years, the Civil Defense Department said.

Two killed in firefighting helicopter crash

On the Greek island of Samos, several towns were evacuated Wednesday evening as wildfires raged out of control. A firefighting helicopter crashed into the sea from a low altitude off the coast of the island as crews tried to fetch water to douse the fire. Two passengers died and the pilot was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The Greek Coast Guard said a fourth prisoner who was initially missing swam to shore. At first it was not known why the helicopter crashed.

In contrast to the sweltering heat of the Mediterranean region, mid-summer in Germany is expected to be mild but relatively pleasant. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), it will only be warmer in the south, where temperatures of up to 35 degrees are expected in Preisgau. It will be less hot in the north, with maximum values ​​ranging from 18 to 21 degrees, while the rest of the country will be between 22 and 28 degrees.

Considering the advancing climate change and the threat of natural disasters, the state development bank KfW recommended compulsory insurance against natural risks. “Against the background of global warming, there are particularly negative consequences in Europe due to floods, water shortages and extreme heat,” KfW Chief Economist Fritzi Köhler-Geib told the “Rheinische Post”. “So we should expect more frequent extreme weather events and major damage in Germany in the future – and prepare for them.”

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