Latest news with #JuanCarlosSuarez-Quinones
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Brits heading to Spain issued warning after devastating wildfires leave one dead
Much of Europe is in the midst an extreme heat-wave with 44C temperatures triggering devastating wildfires to sweep across parts of Spain as officials warn "everyone is at risk" A tragic wildfire sweeping across Spain has devastated the country, with one death already recorded. An urgent warning has been issued to Brits who are planning to go to the popular tourist destination. As temperatures rise to 30C in parts of the UK today, Europe is continuing to battle with a heatwave that has left parts of the continent with tinderbox-like conditions, causing the risk of deadly wildfires. Temperatures in parts of southern Europe are reaching extremes of 44C after days of temperatures hitting over 40C. Now, in a town just outside Madrid, wildfires have begun burning across more than 1,000 hectares of land around Tres Cantos, just 23km north of the Spanish capital. Emergency crews have been battling the fire overnight, and after a still night, were mostly able to get the fire under control. It comes after an exciting heatwave forecast with maps revealing the exact date a 39C heat plume will scorch the UK. A man has been killed in a wildfire that broke out in a town near Madrid as Europe continues to grapple with extreme heat. Emergency crews battled the blaze in Tres Cantos overnight, which is located some 23km north of the Spanish capital - with more than 180 people evacuated. A helicopter had managed to rescue the man from the blaze; however, having already suffered burns on 98% of his body, he died in La Paz hospital. But with the hot, dry conditions, creating the perfect recipe for wildfires, it is not the only blaze Spanish fire fighters have been left tackling. In the north of Spain, in the villages of Castile and Leon, where temperatures have been similarly hot, "fire whirls" burned through several homes and led to around 800 people being told to abandon their homes. Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, the chief of environment for the regional government, told The Telegraph: "This occurs when temperatures reach around 40C in a very confined valley and then suddenly (the fire) enters a more open and oxygenated area. This produces a fireball, a fire whirl." For much of Spain, Italy, France and other parts of Southern Europe and the Balkans, they are under red heat weather alerts where there is a significant risk to life. The Spanish red warning says that 'exposure to excessive temperatures" can lead to health problems such as 'cramps, dehydration, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion (with multi-organ problems that can include symptoms such as gait instability, seizures, and even coma)' Serge Zaka, an agricultural climatologist, said to BFMTV: 'Don't be fooled — this isn't 'normal, it's summer.' It's not normal, it's a nightmare." While in France, which is battling with many of the same conditions, they have warned to be "absolutely vigilant' and the heat poses a danger to everyone, they added: 'everyone is at risk, even healthy people." Any Brits who have ventured to the continent for a summer holiday can be particularly at risk due to a lack of acclimatisation and therefore should stay out of the sun and in cool air-conditioned rooms when possible.
New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Child dies in Italy as European heatwave sets records and sparks wildfires
LAS MÉDULAS, Spain: A young boy died of heatstroke in Italy while wildfires threatened a Unesco site in Spain and French cities saw record temperatures, as a heatwave baked Europe on Monday. Many towns and cities in France, Italy and the Balkans were put on red alert due to the heat. Wildfires fanned by strong winds forced the evacuations of thousands of people throughout the continent and threatened popular tourist sites in Turkiye and Spain. The four-year-old Romanian boy who died in Italy succumbed days after being found unconscious in his family's car on the island of Sardinia. The news came as Italy's health ministry issued a red alert warning for seven major cities, including Bologna and Florence. Some 11 Italian cities are on red alert for Tuesday, and 16 cities on Wednesday. Red alerts were also announced in southern France and on the Adriatic and Ionian coasts in the Balkans. "The heatwave currently affecting France, Spain, and the Balkan countries is not surprising. It is driven by a persistent heat dome over Europe," Akshay Deoras, a research scientist at the meteorology department in Britain's University of Reading, told AFP. "Heatwaves don't roar like storms – they creep in quietly, but can be just as deadly." A blaze, which broke out on Sunday, damaged a Unesco World Heritage-listed Roman-era mining site at Les Medulas in northwestern Spain – famed for its striking red landscape – and prompted hundreds of residents to evacuate. High temperatures and winds of up to 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph) created "many difficulties" for firefighters struggling to contain the wildfire, said Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, the Castile and Leon regional environment minister. "We will not allow people to return until safety in their communities is absolutely guaranteed," he told reporters, estimating that about 700 people had been displaced. Spain has been in the grip of a heatwave for the past week, with temperatures nearing 40C in many areas and fuelling wildfires. In the southern tourist town of Tarifa, more than 2,000 people were evacuated, some from hotels and beaches, after a fire that had been subdued on Friday flared up again, with more than 100 firefighters battling the flames. In neighbouring Portugal, firefighters were battling three large wildfires in the centre and north of the country, while Morocco is sending two aircraft to help fight the fires after two Portuguese planes broke down. In Italy, around 190 firefighters and the army were tackling a wildfire on Mount Vesuvius that caused the closure of the national park to tourists. People were evacuated from dozens of homes in the Balkans as firefighters battled blazes in Albania, Montenegro and Croatia, where red alerts were announced. In Albania, hundreds of firefighters and soldiers had subdued most of the nearly 40 fires that flared up in the last 24 hours, according to the defence ministry, but more than a dozen were still active. Since the start of July, nearly 34,000 hectares (84,000 acres) have been scorched nationwide, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Police allege that many of the blazes were deliberately lit, with more than 20 people arrested in recent weeks. Just outside the capital of neighbouring Montenegro, where temperatures soared to 40C, fire crews managed to save dozens of homes when a blaze broke out in inaccessible terrain on Monday. In Croatia, around 150 firefighters also spent the night defending homes from a blaze near the port city of Split. In the northwestern Turkish province of Canakkale, more than 2,000 people were evacuated and 77 people received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation after several fires broke out around the tourist village of Guzelyali, authorities said. Several homes and cars caught ablaze, according to images shown on Turkish media, while more than 760 firefighters, 10 aeroplanes, nine helicopters and more than 200 vehicles were deployed to battle the flames. Turkiye had just experienced its hottest July since records began 55 years ago. Temperature records were broken in at least four weather stations in southern France, as the government called for vigilance. The southwestern city of Bordeaux hit a record 41.6C while all-time records were also broken at meteorological stations in Bergerac, Cognac and Saint Girons, according to the national weather service, Meteo France. The heatwave, the country's second this summer, began on Friday and was forecast to last possibly until August 19 or 20.
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Child, 4, dies on Italy holiday as heatwave sweeps Europe sparking wildfires
The boy, just four, from Romania was on holiday with his parents in Sardinia when he was discovered unconscious in the family car - he suffered fatal brain damage A young boy has died from heatstroke in Italy amid a deadly European heatwave as wildfires in Spain threaten a UNESCO site and French cities hit record temperatures. The four-year-old Romanian boy was on holiday with his parents in Olmedo in the northwest of Sardinia. It is thought that the child left the house they were staying at before they realised he was missing earlier today. His devastated parents found him unconscious in the family car, and he was then airlifted to hospital in Rome but sadly died of irreversible brain damage, the hospital confirmed. It comes after heatwave forecast with maps revealed the exact date a 39C heat plume will scorch the UK. The scorching summer this year is causing havoc across the continent, with Italy issuing a red alert warning for seven cities, including Bologna and Florence. Almost 200 firefighters are tackling a fire on Mount Vesuvius as its national park was to closed to the public. Spain has also been forced to endure a heatwave over the past week as temperatures hit close to 40C. On Sunday, a wildfire damaged a UNESCO Roman-era mining site at Les Medulas in the north west of the country and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate. Winds of up to 25mph caused "many difficulties" for firefighters attempting to contain the blaze, according to Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, the Castile and Leon regional environment minister. He added: "We will not allow people to return until safety in their communities is absolutely guaranteed." Four people, including two firefighters, suffered minor injuries in the fires. While in the southern town of Tarifa, more than 2,000 people were evacuated, including from hotels and beaches, when a fire flared up again after it was thought to be contained on Friday. Elsewhere on the Iberian peninsula, firefighters battled three massive wildfires in the centre of Portugal, including near Trancoso. It is understood that Morocco is sending a couple of planes to help tackle the blaze after two Portuguese aircrafts broke down. Meanwhile in France, a woman died last Tuesday in the densely wooded Aude region, where the fire broke out in the village of Ribaute. Around 1,800 firefighters were deployed and 1,500 of them worked through the night to hold the flames back. Record temperatures have also been set in at least four weather stations in southern France as the country's second heatwave of the year began. Bordeaux reached an all-time high of 41.6C as records were also broken in Bergerac, Cognac and Saint Girons, according to Meteo France. A total of 12 French departments issued a red alert on Monday, the country's highest heat warning, and four more are expected on Tuesday. In Albania, almost 40 fires were sparked in the past day alone as firefighters and soldiers have been fighting to put them out. The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) estimated that almost 84,000 acres have been scorched across the Balkan country since the beginning of July. Police have claimed that many were caused by arson and more than 20 people have been arrested in connection with them over the past few weeks. Just outside Montenegro's capital of Podgorica, dozens of homes were saved by firefighters after a blaze broke out on inaccessible terrain, as temperatures hit 40C. In nearby Croatia, approximately 150 firefighters spent all night protecting homes from a fire near the port city of Split. While Turkey is experiencing its hottest July since records began 55 years ago. In the northwestern province of Canakkale, more than 2,000 people were evacuated and 77 people needed hospital treatment for smoke inhalation following multiple fires around the tourist village of Guzelyali. At least 760 firefighters were dispatched to combat the blazes. Akshay Deoras, a research scientist at the meteorology department in the University of Reading, told AFP: "The heatwave currently affecting France, Spain, and the Balkan countries is not surprising. It is driven by a persistent heat dome over Europe. Heatwaves don't roar like storms - they creep in quietly, but can be just as deadly."
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Climate
- Express Tribune
European heatwave sets records
A firefighting plane works to extinguish a wildfire on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Canakkale, Turkey. Photo: REUTERS A young boy died of heatstroke in Italy while wildfires threatened a UNESCO site in Spain and French cities saw record temperatures, as a heatwave baked Europe on Monday. The four-year-old Romanian boy died days after being found unconscious in the family's car in Sardinia. The boy was airlifted to a Rome hospital but died of irreversible brain damage, the hospital told AFP on Monday. The news came as Italy's health ministry issued a red alert warning for seven major cities, including Bologna and Florence. Some 11 Italian cities are on red alert for Tuesday, and 16 cities on Wednesday, while around 190 firefighters and the army continue to tackle a wildfire on Mount Vesuvius that caused the closure of the national park to tourists. Wildfires damaged a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in northwestern Spain and forced evacuations in three Balkan countries as high temperatures fanned by strong winds left parts of Europe in flames. Spanish firefighters struggled to contain a wildfire that damaged a Roman-era mining site in Las Medulas and prompted hundreds of residents to evacuate. High temperatures and winds of up to 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph) created "many difficulties", said Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, the Castile and Leon regional environment minister. "We will not allow people to return until safety in their communities is absolutely guaranteed," he told reporters, estimating that about 700 people had been displaced. Four people, including two firefighters, suffered minor injuries, he added. The blaze broke out on Sunday near the Las Medulas area famed for its striking red landscape. Spain has been in the grip of a heatwave for the past week, with temperatures nearing 40C in many areas and fuelling wildfires. Castile and Leon alone has seen 13 fires in the past three days, according to Suarez-Quinones, who said that some were believed to have been deliberately started.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Child dies in Italy as European heatwave sets records and sparks wildfires
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LAS MEDULAS, Spain - A young boy died of heatstroke in Italy while wildfires threatened a Unesco site in Spain and French cities saw record temperatures, as a heatwave baked Europe on Aug 11. Many towns and cities in France, Italy and the Balkans were put on red alert due to the heat. Wildfires fanned by strong winds forced the evacuations of thousands of people throughout the continent and threatened popular tourist sites in Turkey and Spain. The four-year-old Romanian boy who died in Italy succumbed days after being found unconscious in his family's car on the island of Sardinia. The news came as Italy's health ministry issued a red alert warning for seven major cities, including Bologna and Florence. Some 11 Italian cities are on red alert for Aug 12, and 16 cities on Aug 13. Red alerts were also announced in southern France and on the Adriatic and Ionian coasts in the Balkans. 'The heatwave currently affecting France, Spain, and the Balkan countries is not surprising. It is driven by a persistent heat dome over Europe,' Dr Akshay Deoras, a research scientist at the meteorology department in Britain's University of Reading, told AFP. 'Heatwaves don't roar like storms – they creep in quietly, but can be just as deadly.' Unesco site damaged A blaze, which broke out on Aug 10, damaged a Unesco World Heritage-listed Roman-era mining site at Les Medulas in north-western Spain – famed for its striking red landscape – and prompted hundreds of residents to evacuate. High temperatures and winds of up to 40kph created 'many difficulties' for firefighters struggling to contain the wildfire, said Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, the Castile and Leon regional environment minister. 'We will not allow people to return until safety in their communities is absolutely guaranteed,' he told reporters, estimating that about 700 people had been displaced. Spain has been in the grip of a heatwave for the past week, with temperatures nearing 40C in many areas and fuelling wildfires. The Roman-era mining site of Las Medulas, in the municipality of Carucedo photographed on Sept 4, 2024 (left) and on Aug 11, 2025 after a wildfire ravaged the area. PHOTO: AFP In the southern tourist town of Tarifa, more than 2,000 people were evacuated, some from hotels and beaches, after a fire that had been subdued on Aug 8 flared up again, with more than 100 firefighters battling the flames. In neighbouring Portugal, firefighters were battling three large wildfires in the centre and north of the country, while Morocco is sending two aircraft to help fight the fires after two Portuguese planes broke down. In Italy, around 190 firefighters and the army were tackling a wildfire on Mount Vesuvius that caused the closure of the national park to tourists. 20 arrested in Albania People were evacuated from dozens of homes in the Balkans as firefighters battled blazes in Albania, Montenegro and Croatia, where red alerts were announced. In Albania, hundreds of firefighters and soldiers had subdued most of the nearly 40 fires that flared up in the last 24 hours, according to the defence ministry, but more than a dozen were still active. Since the start of July, nearly 34,000 ha have been scorched nationwide, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (Effis). Police allege that many of the blazes were deliberately lit, with more than 20 people arrested in recent weeks. Just outside the capital of neighbouring Montenegro, where temperatures soared to 40 deg C, fire crews managed to save dozens of homes when a blaze broke out in inaccessible terrain on Aug 11. In Croatia, around 150 firefighters also spent the night defending homes from a blaze near the port city of Split. In the north-western Turkish province of Canakkale, more than 2,000 people were evacuated and 77 people received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation after several fires broke out around the tourist village of Guzelyali, authorities said. Several homes and cars caught ablaze, according to images shown on Turkish media, while more than 760 firefighters, 10 aeroplanes, nine helicopters and more than 200 vehicles were deployed to battle the flames. Turkey had just experienced its hottest July since records began 55 years ago. French records Temperature records were broken in at least four weather stations in southern France, as the government called for vigilance. The south-western city of Bordeaux hit a record 41.6 deg C while all-time records were also broken at meteorological stations in Bergerac, Cognac and Saint Girons, according to the national weather service, Meteo France. The heatwave, the country's second this summer , began on Aug 8 and was forecast to last possibly until Aug 19 or 20. On Aug 11, 12 French departments were placed on red alert, the country's highest heat warning, with four more expected on Aug 12. AFP
