
Italian cities on red alert over extreme temperatures
In Croatia, the capital Zagreb and the country's east were at the highest risk of heat, according to the national Meteorological and Hydrological Service.
Authorities remained on high alert after forest fires over the weekend destroyed dozens of homes on the country's tourism-oriented southern coast.
Albania said its firefighters managed to control eight blazes in the past 24 hours.
Meteorologists in Bosnia warned people to stay indoors as parts of the country were predicted to climb to 41C.
"Be ready to suspend outdoor activities and prepared for high temperatures that will lead to health risks among vulnerable people, like the elderly and very young," Bosnia's meteorological institute said.
This is the first of at least three heatwaves expected during the June-August period in Bosnia, said Bakir Krajinovic from the country's Federal Hydro-Meteorological Institute.
Temperatures so far this month have already exceeded forecasts, and predictions for July and August indicate temperatures will be four to five degrees above average, Mr Krajinovic said.
It was also the driest June on record in Bosnia, with the lowest rainfall since measurements began 135 years ago.
Mr Krajinovic said climate change was driving "more intense" weather events and breaking records "more often".
Parts of Serbia are predicted to climb to 39C, also significantly above seasonal average, according to Serbia's National Hydrometeorological Service.
The heat is expected to ease today, with temperatures slightly dropping over the weekend, before climbing again next week, according to weather forecasts for several Balkan nations.
Meanwhile, Greek firefighters said that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control, but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands.
The fire around Athens broke out yesterday near the towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, around 50km east of Athens, and forced the evacuation of five villages popular with local and foreign tourists.
Though it was under control, a volatile combination of high temperatures and strong winds meant that a high risk of other fires breaking out remained, especially in the Attica region around the Greek capital and some islands in the north Aegean Sea, authorities said.
A spokesman for the fire service said that over 100 firefighters with 37 vehicles and a helicopter were on standby near Palaia Fokaia and Thymari.
Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze.
The blaze came on the heels of another fire on the island of Chios -- Greece's fifth-largest island -- which had destroyed more than 4,000 hectares of land in four days.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Portugal reports first death from heatwave fires
The fires raging across Portugal claimed their first victim, when the former mayor of the eastern town of Guarda died fighting fires there, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced. The president offered "heartfelt condolences to the mayor of Guarda for the death of former mayor Carlos Damaso, victim of a fire he was fighting in his parish, asking that he pass them on to his family", said the president's statement. Mr Rebelo de Sousa added that he had cut short his holidays and returned to the presidential palace, joining a meeting of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority. For days now, several thousand firefighters have been battling fires in various parts of the country. Like its neighbour Spain, Portugal has invoked the EU's civil protection mechanism to ask for help, requesting four firefighting aircraft to use until Monday, the presidency said on X. After devastating fires in 2017 that killed 119 people across the country, Portugal boosted investment on fire prevention tenfold, doubling its budget for fighting forest fires. It subsequently managed to reduce the amount of land lost to 134,000 acres between 2018 and 2023, a third of what was lost between 2001 and 2017, according to government figures. It comes as all of Spain is on heatwave alert while the weather agency warned that much of the country is at "very high to extreme risk" from wildfires. The situation has improved for several other southern European nations, but Greece is still fighting fires on one Aegean island. Much of Spain has already endured nearly two weeks of high temperatures. The searing heat has spread to the northwestern region of Cantabria which had so far been spared. Temperatures there are forecast to pass 40C, said Aemet, the national weather agency. The risk of fires over the weekend and into Monday is "very high or extreme in most of the country", it added. Spain has endured a devastating season of fires, with 157,501 hectares reduced to ashes since the start of the year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Yet that figure is still well short of 2022, when more than 306,000 hectares went up in smoke. Three people have died during the fires, including two young volunteers in their 30s who lost their lives trying to put out a blaze in the Castile and Leon area. France has sent two water-bombing planes to help try to douse the flames in the northwestern region, where a dozen fires are still raging. The railway line between Madrid and the northwestern region of Galicia remains closed as well as ten main roads in the country. Elsewhere in southern Europe, lower temperatures and reduced wind are helping to improve the situation in Greece and the Balkans, where rain is forecast. Firefighters remain in Patras, Greece's third-largest city, due to "scattered" fires and are on the look-out if any reignite. The most active is still on the Mediterranean island of Chios, in the northeastern Aegean Sea, where eight aircraft have been deployed to try to douse the flames. The risk of fire remains high in the Attica region that includes the capital, Athens, and the southern Pelopponese peninsula, the Civil Protection agency warned. In Albania, initial government estimates said that thousands of cattle had been killed and 40 homes destroyed in just three days of wildfires.


Irish Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish tourists slapped with worrying Greek wildfires warning
Irish tourists currently in or travelling to Greece have been issued with a rather worrying warning from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Wildfires have wreaked havoc in tourist destinations popular amongst Irish holidaymakers. Dozens of people in various parts of the country have been hospitalised as a result of smoke inhalation. Tourist hotspots including Athens have been labelled as "high risk". Zante, Kefalonia and Chios, which are popular destinations for Irish tourists have been severely affected by the blazes. There have also been evacuations in several parts of the country. The current blistering heatwave throughout much of southern Europe is contributing to the spread of the wildfires in Greece. There have also been wildfires in parts of Spain; Turkey; Albania and Portugal. Three people have died as a result. The current warning on the DFA website reads: "Greece is currently facing several wildfires following high summer temperatures and subsequent heatwaves. The risk of wildfires is expected to intensify in the coming weeks. A man running away from the inferno in Krioneri near Athens (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) A man stands in front of a house burning during a wildfire in Pikermi, some 30 Kms east of Athens. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) "In the case of a wildfire, the authorities will issue notifications regarding evacuations via the 112 message service to all mobile phones in the area. These will be provided in both English and Greek, and we would ask citizens to follow any advice received from local authorities. "Stay fully informed of what is going on by monitoring local news and social media. Call the Greek Emergency Services on 112 if in immediate danger," the DFA added. Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-30s in Greece for the next several days at least. Wall to wall sunshine is also forecast which will hinder the authorities as they attempt to battle the blazes. "Winds are strong and the wildfire is out of control," Zakynthos mayor Yiorgos Stasinopoulos told Greek public broadcaster ERT. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.


The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
The seven mistakes you're making on holiday that make you look classless & common & you won't realise you're doing them
Plus, how you should always avoid being tempted to ask for ketchup HOL-D ON The seven mistakes you're making on holiday that make you look classless & common & you won't realise you're doing them THERE is nothing wrong with being relaxed on holiday — indeed, that's the point — but there is a fine line between being carefree and appearing "common." An etiquette expert has revealed her golden rules for avoiding looking lower class as you unwind away from home. 6 There are some telltale signs you look 'common' when you are away Credit: Getty 6 The Queen of Etiquette Laura Windsor shared her advice for not looking lower class on holiday Credit: Supplied Laura Windsor, the Queen of Etiquette, shared seven things you should immediately stop doing, according to Laura, if you want to look more upper class… 1. FLIP FLOPS For those of you who like city holidays it is a huge no no to walk around in flip flops. Flip flops should be reserved for areas such as the beach, swimming pools, locker rooms and for apocalypse scenarios. It also shows poor dress sense and a lack of situational appropriateness - restaurants do not pair well with ingrown toe nails, hairy and/or non-manicured toe nails. More on holidays HOL NO Mum who booked luxury cabin holiday discovers it's really an unfurnished 'shed' 2. HOGGING LOUNGERS Avoid saving sun loungers for your friends. It's similar to letting your friends jump the queue and is something one would do at school. It was annoying then, it's annoying now. You are all grown up now, there is no excuse. It also shows that you need to exercise some respect towards others and yourself. Moment holidaymakers sprint for sun loungers at popular tourist destination 6 Sun lounger wars are not 'classy' according to the expert Credit: Getty 3. SPAGHETTI WITH A SPOON Eating spaghetti with a spoon and fork - this is a huge no no. If you are ordering spaghetti you should eat it like an Italian - with just a fork. Twirling pasta round a fork does not require extra cutlery. It's just screaming 'tourist' and is an international signal for 'charge me double' plus a 20 per cent service charge on top of the cover charge. You should also avoid stacking plates for the waiting staff, adding salt to food before trying it, and putting your napkin in your collar. 6 If you order spaghetti, don't be tempted to use a spoon Credit: Getty 4. EARLY DRINKS When it comes to holidays, some people start drinking early - be it at the airport Wetherspoons or at the all-inclusive bar. Avoid drinking early morning and making a fool of yourself from that moment forth. Excessive drinking can put you in compromising situations especially on social media; do we really want to see you stumble to your seat and be in a catatonic state? Or sweating alcohol from your pores to the point that you are flammable or engage in innocuous behaviour such as talking or laughing too loudly, or being handsy with your partner, it certainly won't go unnoticed. Most Southern Europeans will sip their alcohol rather than gulp it down and accompany it with a proper meal! 6 You should avoid drinking in the early morning when abroad Credit: Getty 5. REQUESTING KETCHUP To be culturally ignorant is another big no-no. There is nothing worse than travelling to a country and expecting the local restaurants to provide you with your favourite sauces - ketchup, mayonnaise, chilli oil, daddy's sauce and other such monstrosities- eat what is offered as if you were a local, otherwise you might as well save your money and stay at home. Nothing screams 'ignorant tourist' than someone who does not follow or read up on the customs of the country they are visiting. Respect local customs - if the locals queue in a way that is considered unacceptable in your culture, instead of tutting and complaining; it's the time to follow the 'when in Rome' rule. 6. SOCKS AND SANDALS Socks and sandals should be avoided at all costs. You can spot a British person a mile away! 6 Socks and sandals should be avoided Credit: Getty 7. CLAPPING AS YOU LAND Applauding as you land? For what reason? Yes I can understand the incredible skill involved in landing a flying metal tube but no one died or saved a kitten. Are you lucky to be alive? Yes of course you are but then applaud every day. You are more likely to die crossing the road than travelling by plane. It gives the impression that you haven't flown a lot. No one is particularly impressed with an amateur tourist.