Officials have issued warnings to residents and tourists across Mediterranean destinations, advising them to stay indoors during the hottest hours as a second heatwave hits the region. Greece, Spain, and Switzerland are currently grappling with wildfires. Civil protection workers in central Rome are monitoring crowds for signs of distress due to the heat, while in Portugal, the Red Cross is using social media to remind people not to leave pets or children in parked cars. Volunteers in Greece are distributing drinking water, and in Spain, the emphasis is on protecting individuals from inhaling smoke from fires.
Panu Saaristo, the emergency health team leader for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, described heatwaves as an invisible killer, noting that summers in Europe are becoming progressively hotter. It is predicted that the new heatwave in southern Europe will persist for several days, and the U.N. weather agency has warned that temperatures in the region, exacerbated by climate change, could surpass the record-breaking 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded in Sicily two years ago.
In light of concerns that the extreme heat could lead to a spike in fatalities, civil protection volunteers in Rome are distributing reusable water bottles at popular spots, and visitors and residents are encouraged to utilize the city’s numerous public drinking fountains. However, visitors like Fausto Alberetto, who was prepared for the heatwave, described the experience as dreadful.
According to Giuseppe Napolitano, Rome’s civil protection director, four people were identified as suffering from heat-related conditions, but none were in serious condition. In Cyprus, a 90-year-old man died and six other elderly adults were hospitalized due to heatstroke as temperatures exceeded 43 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit).
Heat records are being shattered worldwide, and scientists believe that 2023 has a high chance of being the hottest year on record since the mid-19th century. Preliminary data suggests that last month set a new June temperature record, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The World Meteorological Organization has predicted that numerous heat records will continue to be broken this summer due to unprecedented sea surface temperatures and reduced Arctic sea-ice levels.
Human-caused climate change, exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon, is responsible for the rising global temperatures. However, the current El Nino is still weak to moderate and not expected to reach its peak until winter. Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) are forecasted not only in the Mediterranean but also in North America, Asia, and North Africa.
John Nairn, senior extreme heat advisor for the World Meteorological Organization, emphasized that these weather systems are a consequence of global warming and will persist. He highlighted a sixfold increase in simultaneous heatwaves since the 1980s.
Europe experienced multiple heatwaves last summer, resulting in an estimated 61,000 heat-related deaths. Spain and Portugal saw their temperature records shattered in 2018, which led to devastating forest fires. The deadly 2003 heatwave in France, where approximately 15,000 people died, prompted the country to implement a warning system and reassess its approach to extreme temperatures.
Greece has introduced changes in working hours and afternoon closures of ancient sites to enable workers to cope with high heat. A second heatwave is expected to hit the country, with temperatures reaching as high as 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit). In Spain, most areas are on alert for high to extreme heat, with peak temperatures forecasted to be 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit). The country is also dealing with a severe drought, increasing the risk of wildfires.
Switzerland is battling a wildfire in the Wallis region, with emergency teams evacuating residents from affected areas. The World Meteorological Organization has verified Europe’s all-time heat record of 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 degrees Fahrenheit), which was set in Sicily in August 2021.
In conclusion, the ongoing heatwave across Mediterranean destinations calls for caution and measures to combat the extreme temperatures.
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