Europe’s ‘hellish’ heatwave claims more lives as tourists are told to stay indoors

Temperatures of up to 44°C, ‘danger to life’ alerts, drought and wildfires – it’s a ‘hellish’ summer in central and southern Europe.

Two firefighters have been killed while putting out a fire in the Basilicata region in southern Italy, while and multiple heat-related deaths have been reported across the Balkans.

Apocalyptic weather – originating from a wave of hot air from the Sahara desert – is baking Europe, and meteorologists are warning that prolonged heatwaves will become more common.

People have been told to stay inside to escape soaring temperatures in cities across Turkey, Greece and Italy. And the forecast looks set to get worse.

This is everything you need to know about Europe’s extreme weather.

Italy

After being hit by a powerful heatwave, the worst is yet to come for Italy. Temperatures as high as 45°C are expected by the end of this week.

As a wave of hot air from Africa swept across Europe on Tuesday, these cities were placed under the most severe heat warning: Ancona, Bologna, Campobasso, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome, Trieste and Viterbo.

Palermo, the capital of Sicily, was added to the list yesterday.

Further north, dlderly people in the city of Verona were urged to stay indoors, while sprinklers were set up to cool passersby.

At least four people have already died with suspected heatstroke in Bari, Puglia and Rome amid severe humidity.

Cities including the Italian capital and popular tourist destinations such as Naples and Florence are expected to be hit hard.

Greece

Greece is experiencing its most severe wildfire risk in two decades, with some reservoirs hitting their lowest levels in 10 years.

All fire services are currently on high alert due to multiple nationwide incidents and prevailing weather conditions.

Since Wednesday afternoon, a wildfire has been raging in the forested area of Agios Vlassis near Sofiko, Corinth, advancing towards Epidaurus.

Flames are burning through a dense pine forest, and have been spreading at a rapid speed.

At least three firefighters sustained minor burns and were hospitalised in Corinth.

Drivers were seen racing down roads where both sides were engulfed in flames.

Kea, the westernmost Greek island of the Cyclades, has also been ravaged by fires in the last three days.

Footage shows helicopters collecting water from the Aegean Sea and dropping it on patches of dry vegetation on fire on Tuesday.

Warnings were issued for the region surrounding Athens, with a similar warning for the northeast of the country.

The Acropolis – the biggest cultural attraction in Greece – was forced to shut from midday on Wedndesday for five hours.

Turkey

In western Turkey, firefightersaided by more than a dozen water-dropping aircraft – managed to bring a wildfire near the town of Bergama under control several hours after it ignited on Wednesday.

It comes after the charred bodies of three people – a child, a woman and a man – were found in a burnt woodland in the western province of İzmir’s Çeşme district.

The flames rapidly spread due to strong winds and multiple homes were evacuated.

And even with temperatures hovering at a more bearable 34°C, the Istanbul municipality issued a heat warning on Tuesday, advising residents – especially the elderly, children and pregnant women – to stay inside between 10am and 4pm.

The advisory is in force until July 28, while the heat remains above seasonal norms.

North Macedonia

Further west, North Macedonia declared a state of crisis for 30 days late on Sunday and asked neighbouring Serbia for firefighting helicopters to help fight forest fires.

There are nearly a dozen active wildfires in the country, with the most widespread one on the Serta Mountain, in the region of Negotino.

More than 1,000 hectares of woodland have been burning, with some still active.

The European Commission has deployed four helicopters and three firefighting planes to help North Macedonian authorities.

Bulgaria

More than 270 fires have been extinguished in the last 24 hours in Bulgaria, but flames continue to spread.

Entire villages and parts of towns have been evacuated. Dozens of houses burnt down in the village of Voden, where people were forced to run for their lives after authorities alerted them of the danger too late.

Desperate villagers tried to rescue whatever they could, grabbing farm animals and documents and running away.

A state of emergency has been declared in the Stara Zagora province, in south-central Bulgaria.

Wildfires also continue to rage in the region of Burgas, a popular holiday destination for British tourists.

Thousands of acres have burned over the weekend, mostly affecting mountainous villages.

Meteorologists said temperatures were even higher than officially reported in big cities where concrete radiates heat above the ground.

Albania

Albania has entered its third week of fighting wildfires. Most are located in the south but flames have been making their way up to the country’s north. 

Greece has sent four planes to help fight wildfires in the Dropull municipality.

EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said: ‘Wildfires know no borders.

‘The EU has mobilised firefighting airplanes from Greece to support the local first responders in Albania in their fight against the wildfires. We stand ready to further support Albania if needed.’

A 72-year-old man was also found dead at his farm 125 miles south of the capital Tirana. The cause of death is believed to be heat related, according to local media reports.

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