"Unprecedented for France", "climate shelters" in Italy: the countries of southern Europe are facing an intense heat wave that continues today, with no immediate respite in sight.
Spain, Portugal, Italy and France have been hit by a heat wave for several days, with temperatures reaching up to 44° Celsius.
In France, meteorologists placed 84 of the country's 95 prefectures (excluding overseas territories) on orange alert on Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures that could locally exceed 40° Celsius, a heat wave expected to last at least until mid-week.
Minister of Ecological Transition Agnes Panier-Rinasser commented to AFP on Sunday evening that this is a phenomenon of "unprecedented" scale.
Authorities called on businesses to "protect their employees" and about 200 public schools, out of a total of 45.000, will partially or fully suspend their operations on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
In Madrid, where the mercury reached almost 40°C, "this heat is not normal for this time of year," commented Diego Radamez, a 32-year-old photographer.
Spain already set a record high temperature on Saturday, which remains to be confirmed, since records began, with 46°C in Granada, Andalusia. The previous record was 45,2°C in Seville in June 1965.
Record temperatures at sea: the temperature in the Mediterranean exceeded 26° Celsius in the Balearic Islands, a limit "usually recorded in mid-August", according to the national meteorological service Aemet.
In Italy, 21 cities were put on high alert for extreme heat on Sunday, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence and Rome, where ambulances were parked near tourist attractions.
Emergency departments in Italian hospitals have reported a 10% increase in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergencies, "mainly in cities that not only face very high temperatures but also a higher percentage of humidity."
Main victims: "the elderly, cancer patients or homeless people suffering from dehydration, heatstroke, fatigue," he explained to AFP.
In Venice, guided tours are free for people over 75 in air-conditioned museums and public buildings, while in Rome, swimming pools are free for people over 70.
Moreover, "climate shelters" have been created in Bologna and dehumidifiers have been distributed to those in need in Ancona.
“Heatwaves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and intense in recent years, with the highest temperatures reaching 37° Celsius or more in cities, where the urban heat island effect further increases temperatures,” noted Emanuele Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA).
According to scientists, recurring heat waves are a clear indication of global warming, and these heat waves are expected to become more frequent, longer in duration, and more intense.
According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is "almost certain" that the frequency and intensity of extreme heat waves, as well as the duration of heat waves, have increased since 1950 and will continue to increase due to global warming.
In Portugal, many areas in the south of the country, including Lisbon, have been put on red alert until tonight. The fire risk is also very high, while in Sicily, Italy, firefighters battled 15 fires on Saturday.
On the streets of Lisbon, residents and tourists are trying to protect themselves as best they can.
"We advise people to avoid the heat as much as possible, but despite this we are already seeing cases of heatstroke and burns," pharmacist Sofia Monteiro told AFP.
Source: protothema.gr
