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Europe heatwave: Two die in wildfire in Spain's Catalonia region

Europe heatwave: Two die in wildfire in Spain's Catalonia region

Irish Times21 hours ago
Two people died in a wildfire in
Spain's
Catalonia
region a day ago, which was largely contained though more wind and thunder storms were expected on Wednesday, emergency services and officials said, as
Europe
grappled with a
severe heatwave
.
The blaze in Torrefeta broke out in a farming area on Tuesday afternoon, destroying several farms, and affecting an area stretching for about 40km, firefighters said, adding there were no other casualties.
'The fire was extremely violent and erratic due to storms and strong winds, generating a convection cloud that complicated extinguishing efforts,' the fire service said in a statement.
Authorities warned that more storms were expected on Wednesday afternoon and urged vigilance.
READ MORE
'Please exercise caution and follow all instructions and recommendations from the emergency services,' Catalonia's regional leader Salvador Illa said in a post on X.
About 14,000 residents were asked to remain indoors for several hours on Tuesday.
The wildfire comes as
Italy
limited work outdoors,
France
shut schools and
Turkey
battled wildfires on Tuesday in a European heatwave that meteorologists said was 'exceptional' for striking so early this year.
Spain's meteorological agency AEMET, which earlier this week reported its hottest June on record, issued warnings for high temperatures, storms and high winds across much of the Iberian Peninsula on Wednesday.
'What is exceptional ... but not unprecedented is the time of year,' said World Meteorological Organisation spokeswoman Clare Nullis.
[
'It feels like swimming in soup': Irish in Europe describe life in heatwave
Opens in new window
]
Europe was experiencing extreme heat episodes 'which normally we would see later on in the summer', she said.
Some countries issued health alerts and trade unions attributed the death of a construction worker near the Italian city of Bologna on Monday to the heat.
Power outages, likely caused or aggravated by spiking electricity consumption from air conditioners, were reported in central Florence and in the northern city of Bergamo. In Sicily, a woman with a heart condition died while walking in the city of Bagheria, news agencies reported.
In the Spanish city of Barcelona, authorities were looking into whether the death of a street sweeper at the weekend was heat-related.
The Red Cross set up an air-conditioned 'climate refuge' for residents in Malaga in southern Spain, said a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Turkey continued to battle the wildfires that forced the temporary evacuation of about 50,000 people on Monday in areas surrounding the city of Izmir and in the nearby province of Manisa, as well as Hatay in the southeast.
In France, nearly 1,900 schools were closed, up from about 200 on Monday. The heat was set to peak in France on Tuesday at 40-41 degrees in some areas, weather forecaster Meteo France said.
Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a cause of climate change, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet's hottest on record.- Reuters
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‘It's hard to breathe' – Grim ‘postpone your Spain hol' alert to Irish as locals ‘hide out' deadly 42C Europe heatwave
‘It's hard to breathe' – Grim ‘postpone your Spain hol' alert to Irish as locals ‘hide out' deadly 42C Europe heatwave

The Irish Sun

time15 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

‘It's hard to breathe' – Grim ‘postpone your Spain hol' alert to Irish as locals ‘hide out' deadly 42C Europe heatwave

THE scorching heatwave sweeping across Europe has claimed lives, closed schools, forced people to "hide" out at home, and evacuate as "unbearable" 42C temperatures make it "difficult to breathe". And Advertisement 9 Temperatures are reaching dangerous highs in parts of Spain Credit: Meteologix 9 An Irish woman has shown beaches in Barcelona almost deserted as the heat blasts the city Credit: Journalist Collect 9 Limerick lady Leah is planning to fly home to escape the extreme heat Credit: Journalist Collect Aemet has confirmed June temperatures "smashed records" in Spain as averages reached 23.6C, making it the hottest June since 2017. Leah Daly, from And the 27-year-old admitted she's planning to jet home to escape Barcelona is under a Moderate High Temperature Warning, with temperatures soaring to the mid 30s before 11am and remaining in the high 20s overnight. Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS Wildfires in Lleida in Spain have claimed the lives of two people as blistering The area is under an orange weather alert, one of 118 heat warnings issued across Spain yesterday. In the Costa Dorada town of Vallam a toddler Night-time temperatures recorded overnight into Tuesday hit 28C in Seville and 27C in Barcelona. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Leah told She said: "I'm waking up and the sun is coming up into my room and even when you've the blinds closed you're waking up in just sweltering heat. The heatwave staple being sold in Aldi for €4.99 and it's perfect if you don't like the feel of suncream on your skin "I'm waking up three and four times a night and it's nasty, like it's disgusting." "Even going out onto the balcony to hang out clothes, your feet are burnt off. It's so, so hot. Advertisement "At night time, it's still 27C, 28C, which if you put it into perspective, in Ireland on a nice sunny day that we would enjoy, it could be like 19 degrees. "You'd be like, 'oh it's lovely, isn't it?' And you think 30 degrees is okay, but it's actually really not. 9 Leah showed us how the streets are empty as local hide inside from the temperatures Credit: Journalist Collect 9 She also showed the extreme weather alerts people in Spain have been issued Credit: Journalist Collect Advertisement 9 Leah warned Irish tourists to seriously consider cancelling their holidays on account of the heat Credit: Getty Images "It's miserable. It's gone past the point of actually enjoying the heat and enjoying it safely, because everyone's just inside hiding." Leah explained how the streets of Barcelona look empty as people stick to shaded areas of the footpath and avoid beaches and the city centre. 'HARD TO BREATHE' She explained: "It's hard to breathe here. I was walking down the street the other day and everyone was on the second half of the path in the shade. Advertisement "When you have to get off the footpath, you have to walk in the sun and it's a nightmare. It's awful." Describing the city as "empty", Leah said that those who do dare to walk outside stick to the shade - but most of the locals are sticking indoors. She said: "When you get closer into the city centre, there's no locals. There's no sign of locals. "Everything is raising the prices because they know people need it, especially tourists. So the price of everything is going up in this heat as well." Leah Daly "They're all obviously at home or hiding around the country or away from the city. Advertisement "Obviously being in the city with the traffic and the buildings and everything, it's making it hotter." And as the UV index reaches 11, Leah explained how the She told us: "People are going and they're sitting there for probably 20 minutes and going, yeah, this actually isn't fun and they're leaving. "We've gone a couple of times over the last weekends and at the start of the day it's been havoc then after about 20 minutes when you're looking around, everyone's gone. Advertisement 'IT'S JUST SO HOT' "I love lying out, absolutely adore it but you just can't, it's just so hot. "And even when you do, you're up every two seconds to go to the shop to go get water or you need to bring frozen water with you." But Leah, who's been working remotely for company Fatjoe, warned even the AC in the apartments is simply not strong enough. The young woman has found herself opting to work from cafes and coffee shops where there is industrial strength air conditioning. Advertisement She said: "Anyone coming, I would definitely make sure where you're staying has AC and it's working." 'CHANGE YOUR HOL DATES' But she added: "I feel like it could be a bit of an issue for some places." Leah warned She told us: "If you have the luxury of being able to change your dates, change it. Advertisement "It's such a beautiful city. You will enjoy it so much more when you can actually get out and enjoy it. "Part of the beauty of Barcelona is like the big hustle and bustle of the streets and like the locals and like all the culture. "But if you come now, you'll probably be spending most of your trip in your "We have no sign of it cooling down anytime soon. And I do fear August will be worse." Advertisement 'I'M GOING TO BOOK A TRIP HOME' Leah added: "If they could, if they're is any leeway and they could postpone their holiday, I do feel like they would enjoy it much more if they could push it to maybe September. "But I know a lot of Irish and British people aren't going to do that because they're like, 'Oh, we love the sun'. As an Irish person who loves the sun, it's miserable." She added: "I'm actually going to book a trip home, I think, just to get away from it for a while. "I'm showering potentially three times a day. Most days twice. But there comes a point like at the start of the summer this year when you just start sweating and I just haven't not sweat since. Advertisement "We're trying to make the most of like outdoor pools, like Montjuic pool and stuff like that. "But everything is SPAIN HEAT ALERTS SPAIN has been slapped with 118 heat alerts. These cover virtually the entire country, with the exception of areas of the south east coast such as Almeria and swathes of the north east such as Oviedo. In Seville, people have been warned the mercury will rise above 40C for the next three days - and night time temperatures are expected to remain around 25C. Meanwhile, there are also warnings for storms and heavy rainfall in eastern regions of the country. Those in Valencia and Catalonia have been warned as much as 20mm of rain could fall. Leah had some valuable advice for anyone who does decide to push ahead with their holiday, warning they will need to stay safe. She warned: "As much as you think you want that tan or you want to make the most of the sun, you can enjoy it safely and from indoors. Advertisement "The UV goes down from 6pm, even though it's still hot and it's a bit still hard to manage, it's way safer for you." 'BE INSIDE' Leah continued: "Go and actually see the culture and stuff. Book stuff, be inside for the hottest parts of the day. "If you're going to see Casa Batllo, maybe book that for around like 12pm. If you're going outside places like Park Guell, like just make sure you have frozen bottles of water. "The people selling bottles of water on the street, I heard a tourist being charged five euro for a small bottle of water the other day." Advertisement She stressed: "I'm not even being dramatic. It is difficult to breathe in that heat. I avoid it most of the day." IRISH GOVERNMENT ADVICE The Department of Foreign Affairs has also listed some important advice for Irish citizens living in Spain or Irish tourists visiting. They warned: "During dry periods or periods of high temperatures, there is a risk of forest fires in many parts of Spain. These can result in road and railway closures. In addition, air quality in areas near active fires may deteriorate and adversely affect travellers, particularly those with respiratory ailments. Advertisement "Irish citizens should monitor the news closely as the situation can change quickly, and take particular care to avoid engaging in any action that may contribute to the risk of forest fires when outdoors. "We have no sign of it cooling down anytime soon. And I do fear August will be worse." Leah Daly "If you see a fire or smoke, you are advised to call the emergency number 112. The operators speak English, and will be able to assist you. And they added: "Spain can at times experience extreme weather conditions, including flooding, which can adversely affect travel plans. "You can monitor information and alerts, including severe weather warnings, on the website of the Spanish Meteorological Agency, AEMET. Advertisement "Citizens are advised to check the latest weather information before they travel and to follow the advice of the local authorities." 'VERY HIGH RISK OF HEAT STRESS' A UN climate spokesperson has warned that this will not be the last we see of killer heatwaves across Europe. Clare Nullis, from the World Meteorological Organisation, issued the warning after temperatures hit 46C in Spain. She said: "The frequency and intensity of extreme heat events is increasing in Europe. Advertisement She continued: "By 2050 about half the European population may be exposed to high or very high risk of heat stress during summer." 9 Leah warned tourists planning to still travel to be well equipped with water Credit: REUTERS/ Albert Gea 9 Leah also stressed the importance of having air con in you accommodation Credit: Journalist Collect 9 Most of Spain and surround Islands are under weather alerts Credit: Aemet Advertisement

Ireland experiences fourth hottest June on record
Ireland experiences fourth hottest June on record

Irish Times

time15 hours ago

  • Irish Times

Ireland experiences fourth hottest June on record

Last month was the fourth warmest June in Ireland since data began to be collected by meteorologists in 1900, Met Éireann has said. It was also 'notably warmer than average' this year, with an average temperature of just over 15 degrees across the country – almost 1.5 degrees above the most recent long-term average for the month. The latest data continues the 'warmer-than-normal monthly trend' observed by Met Éireann this year. To date, four months have ranked in the top eight warmest recorded over 126 years – March, April, May and June. The highest temperature recorded in Ireland so far in 2025 was in Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon with 29.6 degrees on June 20th. READ MORE On the same day, Malin Head in Co Donegal, the northernmost point on the island, saw its hottest temperature recorded since 1957, reaching 25.5 degrees. [ Irish in Europe describe life in heatwave Opens in new window ] Met Éireann said provisional rainfall data suggested last month was wetter than average too – an average of 100mm, making it the wettest June since 2022. It added that Munster was the driest area of the country, and the West the wettest. A weather station in Athenry, Co Galway recorded 23 wet days. Last month had less sunshine than average across the country, with Met Éireann saying the West was most affected by its absence. This was in spite of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, taking place on June 21st. As continental Europe entered a heatwave towards the end of the month with the build up of an intense area of high pressure, Met Éireann said 'Ireland stayed on the cloudier northern edge of the heat dome'. Temperatures on the Continent reached over 40 degrees in parts of Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. Citing the high temperatures and substantial rainfall, Met Éireann added that many people experienced 'some uncomfortably high night-time temperatures' in Ireland during June.

Europe heatwave: Two die in wildfire in Spain's Catalonia region
Europe heatwave: Two die in wildfire in Spain's Catalonia region

Irish Times

time21 hours ago

  • Irish Times

Europe heatwave: Two die in wildfire in Spain's Catalonia region

Two people died in a wildfire in Spain's Catalonia region a day ago, which was largely contained though more wind and thunder storms were expected on Wednesday, emergency services and officials said, as Europe grappled with a severe heatwave . The blaze in Torrefeta broke out in a farming area on Tuesday afternoon, destroying several farms, and affecting an area stretching for about 40km, firefighters said, adding there were no other casualties. 'The fire was extremely violent and erratic due to storms and strong winds, generating a convection cloud that complicated extinguishing efforts,' the fire service said in a statement. Authorities warned that more storms were expected on Wednesday afternoon and urged vigilance. READ MORE 'Please exercise caution and follow all instructions and recommendations from the emergency services,' Catalonia's regional leader Salvador Illa said in a post on X. About 14,000 residents were asked to remain indoors for several hours on Tuesday. The wildfire comes as Italy limited work outdoors, France shut schools and Turkey battled wildfires on Tuesday in a European heatwave that meteorologists said was 'exceptional' for striking so early this year. Spain's meteorological agency AEMET, which earlier this week reported its hottest June on record, issued warnings for high temperatures, storms and high winds across much of the Iberian Peninsula on Wednesday. 'What is exceptional ... but not unprecedented is the time of year,' said World Meteorological Organisation spokeswoman Clare Nullis. [ 'It feels like swimming in soup': Irish in Europe describe life in heatwave Opens in new window ] Europe was experiencing extreme heat episodes 'which normally we would see later on in the summer', she said. Some countries issued health alerts and trade unions attributed the death of a construction worker near the Italian city of Bologna on Monday to the heat. Power outages, likely caused or aggravated by spiking electricity consumption from air conditioners, were reported in central Florence and in the northern city of Bergamo. In Sicily, a woman with a heart condition died while walking in the city of Bagheria, news agencies reported. In the Spanish city of Barcelona, authorities were looking into whether the death of a street sweeper at the weekend was heat-related. The Red Cross set up an air-conditioned 'climate refuge' for residents in Malaga in southern Spain, said a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Turkey continued to battle the wildfires that forced the temporary evacuation of about 50,000 people on Monday in areas surrounding the city of Izmir and in the nearby province of Manisa, as well as Hatay in the southeast. In France, nearly 1,900 schools were closed, up from about 200 on Monday. The heat was set to peak in France on Tuesday at 40-41 degrees in some areas, weather forecaster Meteo France said. Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a cause of climate change, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet's hottest on record.- Reuters

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