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Business Recorder
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Business Recorder
Cold baths, climate shelters as Southern Europe heatwave intensifies
ROME: Authorities across Southern Europe urged people to seek shelter Sunday and protect the most vulnerable as punishing temperatures from Spain to Portugal, Italy and France climbed higher in the summer's first major heatwave. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots and regions issued fire warnings as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Peaks of 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) were expected in areas of southern Spain and Portugal, while nearly all of France is sweltering in heat expected to last for several days. In Italy, 21 cities were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence and Rome. 'We were supposed to be visiting the Colosseum, but my mum nearly fainted,' said British tourist Anna Becker, who had travelled to Rome from a 'muggy, miserable' Verona. Hospital emergency departments across Italy have reported an uptick in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine. 'We've seen around a 10 percent increase, mainly in cities that not only have very high temperatures but also a higher humidity rate. It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue,' he told AFP. Hospitals like the Ospedale dei Colli in Naples have set up dedicated heatstroke pathways to speed access to vital treatments like cold water immersion, Guarino said. In Venice, authorities offered free guided tours for people over 75s in air-conditioned museums and public buildings. Bologna has set up seven 'climate shelters' with air conditioning and drinking water, Florence has called on doctors to flag up the lonely and vulnerable, Ancona is delivering dehumidifiers to the needy, and Rome has offered free access to city swimming pools for those over 70. Scientists say climate change is stoking hotter and more intense heatwaves, particularly in cities where the so-called 'urban heat island' effect amplifies temperatures among tightly packed buildings. 'The heat waves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and more intense in recent years, with peaks of 37 degrees or even more in cities, where the urban heat island effect raises the temperatures even further,' said Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). 'A further increase in temperature and heat extremes is expected in the future, so we will have to get used to temperatures with peaks even higher than those we are experiencing now,' she told AFP. In Portugal, several areas in the southern half of the country, including the capital Lisbon, are under a red warning for heat until Monday night due to 'persistently extremely high maximum temperature values', according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Two-thirds of Portugal was on high alert Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires, as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes Saturday. In France, experts warned that the heat was also severely impacting biodiversity. 'With this stifling heat, the temperature can exceed 40 degrees in some nests,' said Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO). 'We are taking in birds in difficulty everywhere; our seven care centres are saturated,' he said.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Ambulances on stand-by as southern Europe heatwave intensifies
ROME: Authorities across Southern Europe urged people to seek shelter Sunday and protect the most vulnerable as punishing temperatures from Spain to Portugal, Italy and France climbed higher in the summer's first major heatwave. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots and regions issued fire warnings as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Peaks of 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) were expected in areas of southern Spain and Portugal, and nearly all of France sweltered in an intense heat expected to last for several days. In Italy, 21 cities across the length of the country were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence, Rome and Catania. 'We were supposed to be visiting the Colosseum, but my mum nearly fainted,' said British tourist Anna Becker, who had travelled to Rome from a 'muggy, miserable' Verona. Hospital emergency departments across Italy have reported an increase in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine. 'We've seen around a 10-percent increase, mainly in cities that not only have very high temperatures but also a higher humidity rate,' he told AFP. It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue.' 'Climate shelters' Hospitals such as the Ospedale dei Colli in Naples have set up dedicated heatstroke pathways to speed access to vital treatments such as cold water immersion, Guarino said. In Venice, authorities offered free guided tours for people over 75s in air-conditioned museums and public buildings. Bologna has set up seven 'climate shelters' with air conditioning and drinking water, Florence has called on doctors to flag up the lonely and vulnerable, Ancona is delivering dehumidifiers to the needy, and Rome has offered free access to city swimming pools for those over 70. In Lisbon, 39-year-old pharmacist Sofia Monnteiro said despite advising people 'not to go out' during the hottest hours of the day, 'we have already had some cases of heat strokes and burns'. French tourist Cedric Gerard, on holiday in the Portugese capital, said the heatwave was 'particularly intense this year'. 'It's hard to bear,' the 50-year-old added. Several areas in the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, are under a red warning until Monday night due to 'persistently extremely high maximum temperature values', said the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Two-thirds of Portugal was also on high alert Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires -- as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes Saturday. Invasive species Scientists say climate change is stoking hotter and more intense heatwaves, particularly in cities where the so-called 'urban heat island' effect amplifies temperatures among tightly packed buildings. 'The heat waves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and more intense in recent years, with peaks of 37 degrees or even more in cities, where the urban heat island effect raises the temperatures even further,' said Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). 'A further increase in temperature and heat extremes is expected in the future, so we will have to get used to temperatures with peaks even higher than those we are experiencing now,' she told AFP. The heat is also attracting invasive species, which are thriving in the more tropical climes. ISPRA launched a campaign this week urging fishermen and tourists alike to report sightings of four 'potentially dangerous' venomous species. The lionfish, silver-cheeked toadfish, dusky spinefoot and marbled spinefoot are beginning to appear in waters off southern Italy as the Mediterranean warms, it said. In France, experts warned that the heat was also severely hitting biodiversity. 'With this stifling heat, the temperature can exceed 40 degrees in some nests,' said Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO). 'We are taking in birds in difficulty everywhere; our seven care centres are saturated,' he added.
Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Telegraph
Pensioners told to shelter from heatwave in museums and swimming pools
Italy has offered pensioners free entry to swimming pools and air-conditioned museums amid skyrocketing temperatures in Europe. Highs of 43C have been forecast across parts of southern Spain and Portugal as much of the continent remains in the grips of an intense heatwave. In Rome, over 70s will be given free access to swimming pools, while in Venice, over 75s will be offered guided tours of museums and public buildings free of charge as authorities seek to keep pensioners out of the sweltering heat. Seven 'climate shelters' with air conditioning have also been established in Bologna, while ambulances have been placed on standby at tourist hotspots across southern Europe. The initiatives were rolled out as extreme heat alerts were put in place across 21 Italian cities, including Naples, Venice, Rome, Florence and Milan. In the regions of Sicily and Liguria, outdoor working has also been banned during the hottest parts of the day. Mario Guarino, the vice-president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, said emergency departments across Italy had reported around a 10 per cent uptick in heatstroke cases. He said: 'It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue.' Hospitals, including the Ospedale dei Colli in Naples, have set up dedicated heatstroke pathways to fast track patients' access to treatments such as cold-water immersion, Mr Guarino added. The extreme temperatures have also been felt elsewhere in Europe, with wildfires sweeping through the Greek coastal towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari on Thursday, destroying homes and forcing more than 1,000 people to evacuate. Strong winds and sky-high temperatures made the fire extremely difficult to contain, with 11 tourists needing to be rescued from a beach, authorities said. The UK Health Security Agency warns that extreme heat is linked to a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with pre-existing health conditions. The Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra) this week also warned that four 'potentially dangerous' species could be invading the Mediterranean amid warming sea temperatures. Ispra urged fishermen and tourists to report sightings of the venomous lionfish, silver-cheeked toadfish, dusky spinefoot and marbled spinefoot, which could be attracted to the waters off southern Italy in the extreme heat. Scientists have warned climate change is playing a critical role in the heatwaves sweeping across Europe, especially in cities where the 'urban heat island' effect means temperatures are amplified among tightly packed buildings. Emanuela Piervitali, a researcher at Ispra, said: 'The heat waves in the Mediterranean region have become more frequent and more intense in recent years, with peaks of 37 degrees or even more in cities, where the urban heat island effect raises the temperatures even further. 'A further increase in temperature and heat extremes is expected in the future, so we will have to get used to temperatures with peaks even higher than those we are experiencing now,' she added. In 2003, more than 70,000 people died during an extreme heatwave in Europe, a disproportionate number of whom were over 75.
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Cold baths, climate shelters as Southern Europe heat wave intensifies
ROME: Authorities across Southern Europe urged people to seek shelter Sunday and protect the most vulnerable as punishing temperatures from Spain to Portugal, Italy and France climbed higher in the summer's first major heat wave. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots and regions issued fire warnings as experts warned that such heat waves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Peaks of 43 degrees Celsius were expected in areas of southern Spain and Portugal, while nearly all of France is sweltering in heat expected to last for several days. In Italy, 21 cities were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence and Rome. 'We were supposed to be visiting the Colosseum, but my mum nearly fainted,' said British tourist Anna Becker, who had traveled to Rome from a 'muggy, miserable' Verona. Hospital emergency departments across Italy have reported an uptick in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine. 'We've seen around a 10 percent increase, mainly in cities that not only have very high temperatures but also a higher humidity rate. It is mainly elderly people, cancer patients or homeless people, presenting with dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue,' he told AFP. Hospitals like the Ospedale dei Colli in Naples have set up dedicated heatstroke pathways to speed access to vital treatments like cold water immersion, Guarino said. In Venice, authorities offered free guided tours for people over 75s in air-conditioned museums and public buildings.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Temperatures reach 46C in Spain as Europe heatwave continues
A heatwave continues to grip large parts of Europe, with authorities in many countries issuing health warnings amid searing Spain is the worst-affected region, with temperatures in the mid-40s Celsius recorded in Seville and neighbouring areas.A new heat record for June of 46C was set on Saturday in the town of El Granado, according to Spain's national weather service, which also said this month is on track to be the hottest June on heat warnings are in force in parts of Portugal, Italy and Croatia, with numerous amber warnings covering areas of Spain, France, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland. In Barcelona, a woman died after completing a shift as a road sweeper on Saturday, when temperatures were very high. Local authorities are investigating her Italy, emergency departments across the country have reported an uptick in heatstroke cases, mainly affecting "elderly people, cancer patients, or homeless people", Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine told the AFP news such as the Ospedale dei Colli in Naples have set up dedicated heatstroke pathways to speed up access to vital treatments such as cold water city of Bologna further to the north has set up seven climate shelters with air conditioning and drinking water, while Rome has offered free access to city swimming pools for those over 70.A pharmacist in Portugal's capital Lisbon told Reuters news agency that, despite telling people "not to go out" during the hottest hours of the day, "we have already had some cases of heat strokes and burns".The severe heat has also affected countries across the western Balkans where temperatures have reached in excess of registered its highest-ever temperature since it began recording them in the 19th century. In Slovenia, the hottest-ever June temperature was recorded on Saturday. North Macedonia is also sweltering as temperatures reached 42C on Friday. More hot weather to come Some areas will continue to get hotter until the middle of the week, with temperatures rising across France, Germany, Italy and the UK over the next few days. Yellow and amber alerts are in place for parts of England this weekend, and temperatures in London may reach 35C on Monday. The heat has been building under a big area of high pressure, with dry air descending and that process has continued over a number of days, temperatures have climbed. The area of high pressure will move eastwards over the next few days – taking the high temperatures northwards and eastwards with it is hard to link individual extreme weather events to climate change, heatwaves are becoming more common and more intense due to climate at World Weather Attribution, who analyse the influence of climate change on extreme weather events, say June heatwaves with three consecutive days above 28C are about 10 times more likely to occur now compared to pre-industrial reporting by BBC Weather, Guy DeLauney and Guy Hedgecoe
