Heat wave in Europe closes schools; temperatures should exceed 40 ° C in several countries

According to the weather forecasts, 84 of the 95 regions of France (excluding overseas territories) are on orange alert this Monday (30) and Tuesday (1), the second highest. Temperatures should remain high for several days in European countries after a new heat wave reaches several countries in Europe on Monday (30). Temperatures should remain high for several days in Italy, Portugal, France and Spain, where thermometers have recorded peaks of up to 44 ° C in recent days. According to the weather forecasts, 84 of the 95 regions of France (excluding overseas territories) are on orange alert on Monday and Tuesday (1), the second highest. In these regions, temperatures should exceed 40 ° C and the heat wave should last at least until midweek. “We have never seen it before,” said Minister of Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, on Sunday night (29). The companies were oriented to “protect their employees”, and about 200 public schools, from the 45,000 in the country, will close partially or total on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday (2). “In our apartment it is just a hell. We live in the dark, it looks like an oven,” said AFP Evan Bernard, which lives in Bordeaux, in southwest France. Impact by country Portugal: two thirds of the country were on maximum alert on Sunday due to extreme heat and fires. In Lisbon, temperatures should exceed 42 ° C. Italy: The Italian Ministry of Health placed 21 of 27 cities monitored under the highest heat alert level on Sunday, including tourist destinations such as Rome, Milan and Naples. Some regions, such as Lazio and Tuscany, plan to ban outdoor work activities during the hottest hours. In Rome, tourists clustered in search of shadow near sights such as Colosseum and Fontana Di Trevi, using umbrellas and seeking public sources to cool off. Greece: The country is again on maximum alert for forest fires due to the extreme climate. A large fire erupted south of Athens on Thursday, forcing evacuations and blocking roads near the old Poseidon Temple. The strong winds spread the flames, damaging houses and covering the sky with smoke. Greek authorities mobilized 130 firefighters, 12 aircraft and 12 helicopters to combat the fire, evacuating 40 people from five areas. Spain: Residents and tourists desperately tried to cool off, with the country recording temperatures of up to 42 ° C in Seville, in the South, and other locations in the southern and central regions. Temperatures in southern Spain were above seasonal averages, leading to health alerts. The national weather service, Aemet, indicated that June should break a new record, becoming the hottest month since the beginning of the records. “This heat is not normal for this time of year,” lamented Diego Radamés, a 32 -year -old photographer, who lives in Madrid, where thermometers reached 40 ° C. On Saturday, Spain had already registered a record since the beginning of the measurements, with 46 ° C in Granada, Andalusia, southwest. The previous record was 45.2 ° C in Seville, in June 1965. Seawater record in the Mediterranean Sea, the temperature exceeded 26 ° C on the Balearic Islands, a “typical of mid -August” level, according to the National Meteorological Agency Aemet. In Italy, 21 cities were on maximum alert on Sunday due to extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence and Rome, where ambulances are positioned near sights. The emergency services of Italian hospitals reported a 10% increase in insolation cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, “especially in cities that record not only very high temperatures, but also greater humidity.” The main victims are “elderly, cancer patients or homeless people suffering from dehydration, insolation and exhaustion,” he said. Thermometers have recorded peaks up to 44 ° C in the last days. AP “Ilha de Heat” in Venice, guided tours are free for over 75 years in air -conditioned museums and public buildings. In Rome, access to the pools was released to over 70 years old. Also in Italy, “climate refuges” were installed in Bologna, and dehumidifiers were distributed to needy people in Ancona, central region of the country. “Heat waves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and intense in recent years, with peaks reaching 37 degrees or more in cities, where the effect of urban heat island increases temperatures,” says Emanuel Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). Wave of heat takes over Europe’s climate change according to scientists, recurring heat waves are a consequence of global warming and tend to become more frequent, lasting and intense. According to the IPCC (intergovernmental panel on UN climate change), it is “almost certain” that the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves have increased since 1950 and will continue to increase with global warming. In Portugal, several regions of the south of the country, including the capital Lisbon, are on red alert until Monday night. The risk of fires is also maximum, as in Sicily, where firefighters fought 15 outbreaks on Saturday. In the streets of Lisbon, residents and tourists try to protect themselves as they can. “We recommend that people stay in cool places, yet we have already recorded cases of insolation and burns,” explained pharmacist Sofia Monteiro. “It’s hard to endure. We often stop, water, it’s an excuse to drink a drink,” said French tourist Cédric Gérard. Heat wave hits southern Europe (with AFP)

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