Japan's Rice Crop at Risk as Farms Face Record-Breaking Heat
Key rice-producing regions like Tohoku and Hokuriku saw the least amount of rain in July in data that goes back nearly 80 years, while a heat wave this month has broken multiple temperature records and scorched much of the country.
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Thousands battle Greece fires as heatwave bakes Europe
Greece on Wednesday battled a dozen major wildfires, including one menacing its third-largest city Patras, as a heatwave stoked blazes and forced the evacuation of thousands in southern Europe. Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the Balkans and Britain have this week wilted in high temperatures that fuel wildfires and which scientists say human-induced climate change is intensifying. - Greece - Thousands of firefighters backed by the army deployed across Greece, with fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis saying "the situation remains difficult" for "forces waging a tough battle". "It's a cocktail of high temperatures, strong winds... and minimal humidity," the head of civil protection for Western Greece, Nikos Gyftakis, told public broadcaster ERT. AFP journalists saw residents and firefighters backed by helicopters frantically attempt to douse flames in scrubland and forests outside Patras, with thick smoke reducing visibility. Officials evacuated 12 children from a Patras hospital, Vathrakogiannis said. Eighty elderly people were removed from a retirement home, and local media footage showed the roof of a nearby 17th-century monastery ablaze. Other fronts were burning on the popular Ionian tourist islands of Zante and Cephalonia and the Aegean island of Chios, scarred by a huge wildfire in June that ravaged more than 4,000 hectares. Around 20 villages were evacuated in the western Achaia region on Tuesday, while the Greek coastguard said nearly 80 people were removed from Chios and near Patras. Vathrakogiannis said 71 people had received medical care, mostly in the western town of Preveza and the Patras area. After Greece requested four water bombers from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to bolster its resources, the main opposition PASOK Socialist party questioned the conservative government's preparedness for fires that strike every year. "A fully reformed civil protection system with an emphasis on prevention is required," PASOK said, identifying a poor coordination of forces and a lack of local emergency plans that made firefighting "extremely challenging". - Spain - Wildfires dominated the news in Spain, where flames have threatened a world heritage Roman mining site in the northwestern region of Castile and Leon. Regional authorities said almost 6,000 people from 26 localities had been evacuated from their homes, while seven people had been admitted to hospital for burns, including four in critical condition. Bushy undergrowth and searing temperatures that have baked Spain for almost two weeks had created "the worst possible breeding ground for this situation", said Castile and Leon's civil protection head Irene Cortes. A total of 199 wildfires have scorched nearly 98,784 hectares (244,100 acres) across Spain this year -- more than double the area burned during the same period in 2024. - Portugal - Neighbouring Portugal deployed more than 2,100 firefighters and 20 aircraft against five major blazes, with efforts focused on a fire in the central municipality of Trancoso that has raged since Saturday. Strong gusts of wind had rekindled flames overnight and threatened nearby villages, where television images showed locals volunteering to help firefighters under a thick cloud of smoke. "It's scary... but we are always ready to help each other," a mask-wearing farmer told Sic Noticias television, holding a spade in his hand. A separate fire in a mountainous zone of Arganil in central Portugal smothered several villages with smoke, prompting the evacuation of elderly residents in particular. - Balkans - Dozens of blazes stretched emergency services in the Balkans, where a severe drought and a prolonged heatwave have exacerbated the region's traditional fire season. An 80-year-old man died in Albania late Tuesday after he lost control of a fire he had started in his garden. The blaze quickly spread to neighbouring homes, injuring eight people. Authorities have evacuated residents in parts of central and southern Albania, but easing weather conditions in neighbouring Montenegro helped firefighters protect homes. The country mourned a soldier who died in a water truck overturn near the capital Podgorica on Tuesday, with the defence ministry speaking of a "heavy loss". - Britain - Historically temperate Britain sweated through its fourth heatwave of the summer, with the previously unthinkable prospect of wildfires now a real threat. A blaze in northern England's North York Moors national park was declared a "major incident" on Wednesday and covered around five square kilometres (nearly two square miles), firefighters said. burs-imm/jph/phz
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Heat health alerts extended into next week during fourth summer heatwave
Heat health alerts have been extended into next week for much of England following the fourth heatwave of the summer. The UK Health Security Agency said yellow warnings will now be in place in Yorkshire and Humber, the East and West Midlands, London, the South East and South West and East of England until 6pm on Monday, August 18. The warnings mean significant impacts on health and social care services are possible due to high temperatures, including a potential rise in deaths among the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions. Alerts were previously due to end at 6pm on Wednesday.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Heat health alerts extended into next week
Heat health alerts have been extended into next week for much of England after the fourth heatwave of the summer brought thunderstorms and showers. The UK Health Security Agency said yellow warnings will now be in place in Yorkshire and Humber, the East and West Midlands, London, the South East and South West and East of England until 6pm on August 18. The warnings mean significant impacts on health and social care services are possible due to high temperatures, including a potential rise in deaths among the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions. Alerts were previously due to end at 6pm on Wednesday. Heavy rain and thunder hit London and Kent on Wednesday afternoon, and the Met Office said it was likely the South East would continue to experience thick clouds and a risk of heavy thundery showers overnight. Northern England and Northern Ireland should see isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms and flood alerts have been issued for Scotland. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued alerts across 19 regions. It says heavy thundery showers or rain may affect the region during Wednesday afternoon and evening and during Thursday, with a risk of significant localised flooding effects from surface water and smaller rivers. The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for most of Scotland from 2pm until midnight, with the potential for up to 30mm of rain in less than an hour, and 50mm locally, as well as hail and gusty winds. Wednesday began warm following a sweltering night for most of the country. The highest temperature recorded on Tuesday night was 19.4C in Myerscough, Lancashire, with 16.4C in Killylane, Antrim, Northern Ireland, 17.1C in Salsburgh, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and 17.9C in St Athan, Wales. The highest temperature recorded overnight in 2025 so far was 22.2C in Heathrow on July 1. Firefighters in North Yorkshire declared a major incident on Wednesday after a moor fire near an RAF base spread over five square kilometres, with 20 pumps attending. North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said it has been fighting the blaze on Langdale Moor, close to the RAF Fylingdales early warning station, since Tuesday morning. David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Jo Coles, deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime, said in a statement: 'We are aware of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's declaration of a major incident for the fire at Langdale Moor and continue to monitor the situation. 'We encourage the public to avoid the area and follow the latest advice from the fire service, which can be found on their website. 'We want to thank the firefighters, emergency service workers and partner agencies for their response to this incident.' Officials have said that England is suffering from 'nationally significant' water shortfalls, despite rain in July. The national drought group – which includes the Met Office, regulators, Government, water companies and other organisations – has met as five areas of the country remain in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status. England is suffering widespread environmental and agricultural effects from the lack of water, which is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wetlands and river wildlife, and increasing wildfires, the group said. On Thursday, there will be residual showers and isolated thunderstorms across the South East, gradually clearing, and lightning, hail and heavy rain drifting northwards from Scotland into the Northern Isles. Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'Some areas will continue to experience their fourth heatwave of the summer so far, with Thursday remaining warm or very warm for many, though cooler near coasts. 'Temperatures could still reach 30C in eastern England, though many areas will be a few degrees cooler than earlier in the week.' Northern England will have patchy rain and cloud on Friday while southern England will enjoy sunshine and temperatures of up to 31C. The weekend should be dry and sunny for most parts of the UK, climbing to 30C on Saturday and 29C on Sunday in south-west England.
