Europe Scorches in Record Heatwave Spain and Italy Hit 40°C
Europe Faces Record-Breaking Heat
Spain had its hottest June ever. On Tuesday, temperatures went over 40°C (104°F) in some Spanish cities. In Italy, the city of Trento also reached 40°C. Even northern cities like London were very hot.
Europe is warming twice as fast as the world average, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Clare Nullis, a spokesperson from the World Meteorological Organization, said it’s not unusual to have such heat, but it usually happens later in the summer, not this early.
Because of the extreme heat:
Some countries gave health warnings.
A construction worker near Bologna, Italy, died from the heat.
Outdoor work was banned during the hottest hours in parts of Italy.
Italy gave red alerts for 17 cities, including Rome and Milan.
In cities like Florence and Bergamo, there were power cuts, possibly because too many people were using air conditioners.
In Sicily, a woman with a heart problem died while walking in the heat. In Barcelona, officials are checking if a street cleaner’s death was also due to the heat.
The Red Cross opened a cool place for people in Malaga, southern Spain, to rest.
Wildfires in Turkey forced about 50,000 people to leave their homes temporarily. The fires happened around Izmir, Manisa, and Hatay.
In France, nearly 1,900 schools were closed due to the heat. On Tuesday, temperatures there reached 40–41°C in some places.
Why Is This Happening?
Experts say the main cause is climate change. Burning fossil fuels, cutting trees, and polluting industries are making the Earth hotter. Last year was the hottest year ever recorded.
Omar Bah, a worker in London, where it was 32°C, said, “We keep hearing about climate change. I think we’re feeling it now.”
In Spain, the Mediterranean Sea reached a record 30°C, which is 6 degrees hotter than usual. A strong high-pressure system created a “heat dome” over Europe, trapping the hot air.
Hotter seas make land areas even hotter, Nullis explained. In June, Spain’s average temperature was 23.6°C, and England had its hottest June since 1884.
Other Effects
A mudslide in the French Alps stopped train service between Paris and Milan. Trains may not run normally again until mid-July.
The top floor of the Eiffel Tower was closed due to the heat. A woman from Barcelona, who had booked tickets years ago, was very disappointed.
When it gets very hot, the iron in the Eiffel Tower expands, causing it to tilt slightly, but it’s still safe.
In France, the extreme heat is also increasing the risk of farm fires. Farmers are now working at night to avoid the dangerous daytime heat while harvesting.
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