Travel warnings for UK holidaymakers as deadly heatwave grips Greece and Italy
All you need to know about the heatwave in Europe.
July will be marked by a ‘hellish’ heatwave that will sweep across Europe into August – and by deadly wildfires.
Extreme heat has hit parts of the Mediterranean and Balkans, with temperatures being forecast to go over the 40°C mark.
Families heading to Spain have been told to brace themselves for the heat, while those in Greece remain vigilant of fires.
Hot air from Africa plus a high pressure system is behind the ‘historic’ heatwave.
This is everything you need to know about how it is affecting the weather across Europe.
Greece
More than 200 firefighters backed up by helicopters and water-carrying jets are battling a wildfire on Greece’s second-biggest island of Evia for a second day on Tuesday.
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of two villages, forcing dozens of people to abandon their homes.
Flames broke out near the village of Petries in the centre of Evia at about 3pm onMonday and strong winds fuelled its spread.
While the situation had slightly improved on Tuesday, flare ups remain a risk due to the windy conditions, a fire service spokesperson said.
13 aircraft and six helicopters were at the scene on Tuesday about 37 miles of the capital, Athens.
A coastguard vessel was on standby overnight for possible evacuations by sea.
‘It was – and is – a difficult fire as it started in a difficult spot,’ climate crisis and civil protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias, who travelled to Evia late on Monday, was quoted as saying by state broadcaster ERT.
Greece has been 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.
Flames across Greece have been spreading, despite the extensive efforts of both firefighters and volunteers.
Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece had been dealing with ‘a very difficult summer’ in terms of climate conditions.
‘We still have a very difficult month, August, ahead of us and obviously we all need to be on high alert,’ he told ministers during a cabinet meeting.
Because of the high temperatures, multiple tourist attractions like the Acropolis in Athens have been closed for periods of time.
Spain
Spain has already been experiencing extreme temperatures since the beginning of the summer.
Authorities have been issuing health alerts, adding that the heat poses a particular danger to tourists who are not used to them.
The Balearic Ministry of Health urged people to ‘take extreme precautions’ ahead of what will be a second heatwave in the area this month.
Mallorca – a major tourist destination for Brits – is among the islands that will be hit.
Temperatures in the region has already surpassed 40°C, with the same forecast for Wednesday.
Italy
Italy’s health ministry has issued a ‘red alert’ in 13 cities due to expected extreme heat in the coming days.
This includes Rome, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Milan, Palermo, Perugia, Rieti, Torino and Naples.
People – particularly the elderly, children, pregnant women – have been urged to exercise caution because the weather conditions could endanger their health.
What should you drink in a heatwave?
It’s well worn advice to drink plenty of fluids in order to avoid dehydration.
Before you reach for your water bottle, though, a doctor has claimed there’s a better option when managing a heatwave: milk.
It’s not the usual go-to come summer; we all remember Anchorman’s Ron Burgundy proclaiming ‘milk was a bad choice’ in the sweltering sunshine, right?.
However, Dr Natasha Fernando, medical director at Medichecks, says it ‘may be more hydrating than water’. Read why that’s the case here.
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