Authorities across southern and central Europe scrambled Tuesday to respond to a deadly mix of heatwaves, wildfires, and severe storms as soaring temperatures and extreme weather battered multiple countries from Greece to Spain.
In Greece, the Acropolis in Athens was partially closed for safety reasons amid a four-day heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach up to 42°C. The Greek labour ministry ordered a midday work stoppage in several regions, halting construction and delivery services. “We drink a lot of water... and take breaks whenever possible,” courier Michalis Keskinidis told AFP. Civil protection officials warned of a heightened wildfire risk around Athens and the Peloponnese, as firefighters battled up to 50 blazes a day.
Meanwhile, Spain faced a growing wildfire in Catalonia’s Tarragona province that scorched over 2.300 hectares, including protected forest land in the Els Ports natural park. Fierce winds reaching 90 km/h hampered overnight containment efforts. Authorities urged around 18.000 residents to stay indoors, with emergency forces and the military deployed. The blaze comes after Spain recorded its hottest June on record, with extreme heat now three times more frequent than a decade ago, according to national weather agency AEMET.
Elsewhere in the Balkans and Central Europe, violent storms wreaked havoc. In Croatia, heavy rain and wind battered the coastal town of Split, downing trees and flooding roads. Two people were injured in Vinkovci, and a ferry collided with smaller vessels after breaking its moorings. In Hungary, wind speeds reached 137 km/h in Budapest, tearing off roofs and causing power outages. Rail traffic was severely disrupted, with recovery expected to take weeks. Slovakia also suffered storm damage, with roofs blown off buildings, transport blocked, and fresh storm warnings in place for Tuesday.
In Serbia, over 620 fires were recorded in just 24 hours as the national meteorological agency warned of further risks from both heat and storms.
Scientists warn that the frequency and ferocity of such climate events are linked to global warming, with more extreme heatwaves and wildfires expected as the planet warms.
With AFP
Comments