No relief as scorching temperatures grip Europe, putting regions on high alert
A heat dome hovered over an arc from France, Portugal and Spain to Turkey, while data from European forecasters suggested other countries were set to broil further in coming days. New highs are expected on Wednesday before rain is forecast to bring respite to some areas later this week.
Women cool off in a public fountain during the first summer heatwave in Seville, Spain, on Monday. Reuters
"Extreme heat is no longer a rare event — it has become the new normal,' tweeted U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres from Seville, Spain, where temperatures were expected to hit 42˚C on Monday afternoon.
Reiterating his frequent calls for action to fight climate change, Guterres added: "The planet is getting hotter & more dangerous — no country is immune.'
Beachgoers play in water on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul in Cholpon-Ata, some 250km from Bishkek. AFP
In Portugal — his home country — one reading on Sunday turned up a suspected record-high June temperature of 46.6˚C in Mora, about 100 kilometres east of Lisbon. Weather officials were working to confirm whether that marked a new record.
Portuguese authorities issued a red heat warning Monday for seven of 18 districts as temperatures were forecast to hit 43˚C .
People visit the beach amid warm weather as temperatures continue to rise across the region, in Brighton, Britain. Reuters
The first heatwave of the year has gripped Spain since the weekend and no relief is expected until Thursday, Spain's national weather service said Monday. The country appeared to hit a new high for June on Saturday when 46˚C was tallied in the southern province of Huelva.
In France, which was almost entirely sweltering in the heatwave on Monday and where air conditioning remains relatively rare, local and national authorities were taking extra effort to care for homeless and elderly people and people working outside.
Tourists stand in front of a cooling fan installed outside the Colosseum in during the heatwave in Rome. Reuters
Some tourists were putting off plans for some rigorous outdoor activities.
"We were going to do a bike tour today actually, but we decided because it was gonna be so warm not to do the bike tour," said Andrea Tyson, 46, who was visiting Paris from New Philadelphia, Ohio, on Sunday. Misting stations doused passers-by along the Seine in the French capital.
A steward fans spectators sitting on Centre Court on day one of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, on Mondayd. AP
France's first significant forest fires of the season consumed 400 hectares (988 acres) of woods Sunday and Monday in the Aude region in the south. Water-dumping planes and some 300 firefighters were mobilized, the regional emergency service said. Tourists were evacuated from one campground in the area.
A helicopter sprays water to extinguish a fire in Seferihisar, near Izmir, Turkey, on Monday. AP
In Turkey, forest fires fanned by strong winds damaged some holiday homes in Izmir's Doganbey region and forced the temporary closure of the airport in Izmir, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities evacuated four villages as a precaution, the Forestry Ministry said.
People cool off at a beach during a heatwave in Rabat. AFP
In Italy, the Health Ministry put 21 cities under its level three "red' alert, which indicates "emergency conditions with possible negative effects' on healthy, active people as well as at-risk old people, children and chronically ill people.
Regional governments in northwestern Liguria and southern Sicily in Italy put restrictions on outdoor work, such as construction and agricultural labor, during the peak heat hours.
The mercury was rising farther north, too.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus uses an ice pack to cool during her match against Carson Branstine of Canada at their first round women's single match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. AP
Britain's national weather service, the Met Office, said the Wimbledon Championships were facing what could be their hottest start on record — with temperatures of just under 30˚C recorded at the nearby Kew Gardens.
Tennis enthusiasts fanned themselves or sought shade from the blazing sun as the first day of matches got underway at the All England Club on Monday. Tournament rules allow players to take a 10-minute break when the heat hits 30.1 degrees Celsius or more in mid-match.
In southern Germany, temperatures of up to 35˚C were expected on Monday, and they were forecast to creep higher until midweek — going as high as 39˚C on Wednesday.
Some German towns and regions imposed limits on how much water can be taken from rivers and lakes.
Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sharjah 24
19 minutes ago
- Sharjah 24
2nd Heritage Conf. continues discussions on Western travel literature
Economic Conditions Through Western Travel Literature In the session titled 'Economic Conditions Through Western Travel Literature', moderated by Dr Mani Bounama, Dr Mohammed Al Mansouri spoke about the profound transformations in the Trucial States due to the entry of foreign oil companies in the mid-20th century, and the resulting documentation. Majid Shubar highlighted the role of European travellers and researchers in exploring the Arab world across centuries. Aisha Al Hussan reviewed aspects of Emirati cultural heritage as depicted in Western writings, while Dr Hamad bin Seray added that British officials recorded everything they witnessed during their administration of the region. Features of Arab Society in the Writings of Western Travellers In the session 'Features of Arab Society in the Writings of Western Travellers', Dr Said Al Masri stressed that many European records were based on orientalist assumptions. Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Seddiqi, speaking via Zoom, presented a paper on 'The Social and Cultural Image in the Eyes of Western Travellers' focusing on both Eastern and Maghrebian examples. He noted the importance of employing imagery when addressing events in Islamic history among Muslim communities. Dr Younis Al Numani pointed out that the geographical location of the Sultanate of Oman attracted travellers who documented its way of life, while Dr Khalid Al Qasimi explained that travellers often lacked methodological accuracy. He emphasised that the methodology of travellers differed from that of historians, as they did not always strive for factual accuracy, and their accounts were often shaped by personal beliefs or unreliable sources. Dr Saif Al Badwawi discussed the British survey of the Arab coast, and Dr Ali Afifi examined Western perspectives on food in Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula. In a second session under the same title, 'Features of Arab Society in the Writings of Western Travellers 2', moderated by Dr Saleh Al Luhaibi, Omani researcher Imad Al Bahrani reviewed social aspects of Omani society as recorded in the 1956 travel report by a British consul. Dr George Gregory from Romania shed light on how Arabs and their regions were described in the works of Romanian traveller Panait Istrati. Dr Ali Afifi presented a paper titled 'The Western Travellers' View of Food in Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula from the 15th to the Mid-20th Century', while Egyptian researcher Dr Sadiq Jawhar examined representations of Cairo in Western travel literature. Manifestations of Arab Heritage in the Mirror of the Other In the session 'Manifestations of Arab Heritage in the Mirror of the Other', moderated by Mohammed Al Balushi, Dr Maria Boubia presented 'The Arab in the Mirror of Medieval Western Europe'. Dr Massoud Idris from Macedonia, speaking via Zoom, discussed 'Arab Heritage in the Eyes of Balkan Peoples'. Dr Mahmoudou Amin from Mauritania explored 'Food and Medicinal Traditions in Mauritania: A Reading of the Texts of French Travellers and Explorers.' Dr Shakir Nouri from Iraq reviewed the portrayal of Antarah ibn Shaddad Al Absi in the Imagination of Alphonse de Lamartine, while Dr Ali Abdullatif Hamida from Libya, speaking via Zoom, examined the concept of Bedouin life in the writings of Western travellers and anthropologists who visited Tripoli/Libya during the colonial era. Specialised Sessions Enrich Cultural Understanding All sessions were distinguished by a high level of presentation and analysis, exceeding expectations in the depth of input and richness of discussion. This reflects the conference's standing as a leading intellectual platform that enhances cultural dialogue between East and West, while opening new avenues for the study of folk heritage through travel literature and Western writings.
Al Etihad
5 hours ago
- Al Etihad
More than 1,500 flights cancelled on July 3-4 due to French air traffic controllers' strike
3 July 2025 20:08 PARIS (REUTERS) More than 1,500 flights have been cancelled on July 3-4, affecting nearly 300,000 passengers, due to a strike by French air traffic controllers, European industry lobby Airlines for Europe said in a statement."Airlines for Europe (A4E) strongly condemns the French air traffic control (ATC) strike taking place today and tomorrow," it said. "Tens of thousands of travellers in France and across Europe have seen their summer getaway grounded as French air-traffic controllers walk out during the Grand Départ; one of the busiest periods for summer travel," it added.
Sharjah 24
6 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
2nd Heritage Conf. explores economy in Western travel writings
The session included contributions from His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Institute, Dr Hamdan Al Derai, Dr Laila Meziane from Morocco, and Dr Ghanem Al Humaidi from Qatar. The session was moderated by Aisha Al Hussan. During the session, the speakers affirmed that the writings of Western travellers serve as an important reference for studying the history of Gulf societies, offering detailed accounts of economic and social conditions, despite being marred by colonial and cultural biases. They pointed out that a critical reading of these texts helps to deconstruct the stereotypical images that prevailed about the region and contributes to restoring a more balanced narrative of the local past. Al Musallam's Reading of Cursetjee's Vision of the Gulf His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam presented a paper titled 'Cursetjee's Journey to the Gulf', in which he reviewed the book 'The Land of the Date', documenting the author's journey from Bombay to Basra in 1916–1917, during the First World War and the growing British presence in the Gulf. He explained that the book offers a detailed description of ports, inhabitants, customs, and myths, yet reflects a biased colonial viewpoint, necessitating its analysis within a broader political and cultural context. Meziane: Moroccan Maritime Heritage Dr Laila Meziane, presenting her paper via Zoom, addressed 'European Representations of Moroccan Maritime Heritage', focusing on how the Moroccan coast was portrayed in European sources between the 16th and 20th centuries, while highlighting modern digital methodologies used to document this heritage. Qatar in Western Travel Writings For his part, Dr Ghanem Al Humaidi discussed 'Qatar Through the Eyes of Travellers', exploring key aspects of social and cultural life in Qatar as portrayed by travellers, merchants, and missionaries. He touched on themes such as pearl diving, hospitality, and tribal society. The Gulf Coast and Postcolonial Transformations Dr Hamdan Al Derai shed light on 'The Economic and Livelihood Patterns in the South-Eastern Arabian Peninsula', referring to the transformations in the role of Arabs as trade intermediaries following the dominance of the British East India Company. Heritage Conference: A Platform for Cultural Dialogue and Knowledge Exchange This session forms part of a series of academic and cultural events held during the Second Heritage Conference, with the participation of a select group of researchers and experts from various countries. The aim is to discuss the image of Arab folk heritage through the lens of others and to highlight Western representations of this heritage in travel and orientalist literature. The conference continues over two days, featuring special exhibitions, book signings, and knowledge-based encounters that contribute to fostering cultural dialogue and the exchange of expertise between heritage enthusiasts from both East and West.
