Heat wave hits Southern Europe. Air quality is particularly poor in Spain. Italy will record temperatures of around 40 degrees. And the mercury may rise again this Wednesday…
Scorching heat in the heart of the city. The mercury reaches 37 degrees Celsius in Rome… In this situation, there are some precautions. “We’ve got misters and hot water. We’re dying. It’s so hot.”A tourist slips away. “It’s hot, but we survive”Another tourist said.
And that temperature may rise further. An anti-storm from Africa is currently crushing the entire Mediterranean region. In Sardinia and Sicily, temperatures could reach 48 degrees, close to the 48.8 degrees recorded in 2021.
In Madrid, residents are already recording the second heat wave of the summer at 40 degrees. Officials have put 30 provinces in code orange for extreme temperatures. In Córdoba, the thermometer showed 45 degrees on Tuesday. “It’s very, very hot. Luckily we have some shade. It’s too hot to walk, five minutes, we have to stop”A resident says.
“A Serious Threat”
In addition, warm winds from the south carried a cloud of sand from the Sahara. Fine particles can exacerbate respiratory problems. “It’s a serious threat to health.”The World Meteorological Organization has warned.
France has also warned. Rhône and 21 departments are on orange alert for heat wave and storms. The mercury soared to 39°C in Lyon.
The heat wave is expected to affect southern parts of Europe for another two weeks. So be careful while traveling. According to a study, last year in Europe, more than 60,000 deaths were attributed to summer heat waves.
Italy braces for record temperatures
The Italian Ministry of Health has issued a level 3 alert bulletin, explains our RTL news reporter Natalia Mendoza. This means extreme heat conditions that endanger the health of the most vulnerable people, the elderly and children below, but also pregnant women.
The ministry recommends avoiding going out between 11 am and 6 pm. Stay hydrated and avoid physical exertion. The Italian Red Cross has activated a toll-free number for emergency calls. In Genoa, in the north of the country, an ambulatory vehicle has been set up in the historic center square to provide immediate relief if needed.
Particular attention is paid to nursing homes because the situation is really worrying. Last year, during the summer, almost 18,000 deaths were caused by the heat in Italy. So the Italian authorities want it to happen again this year at all costs.
“Total coffee junkie. Tv ninja. Unapologetic problem solver. Beer expert.”