‘It’s hell outside’: Heatwave suffocates central and southern Europe, people forced to stay at home

This article was originally published in English

Weather warnings, wildfires, melting roads in cities: a deadly heatwave has sent temperatures soaring in parts of central and southern Europe, reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius.

From Italy to Romania, authorities are calling for caution, drinking plenty of water and avoiding going out during the hottest hours of the day.

Authorities Italian said Thursday a red weather alert in seven cities, mainly in the centre of the country, but also in the capital Rome and Trieste in the northeast. The hot conditions are aggravated by humidity and could affect healthy people as well as those with health problems, authorities warned.

With summer heat waves starting earlier and earlier and 13 consecutive months of record temperaturessome experts wonder if the current summer will not be the hottest in European history.

Similar warnings have been issued in the Croatia neighboring and further east and south. The main tourist resort in Croatia, Dubrovniksouth of the Adriatic Sea, recorded 28 degrees Celsius at dawna sign that there will be no respite at sunset.

Forest fires have been reported this week in Albanianear the border with Greece, as well as in Bosnia and in ItalySeveral fires raged Thursday in the region of Corinthsouth of the Greeceand on the island of Lesboseast of the Aegean Sea.

Alerts were issued for the region surrounding the capital Athens and other parts of central Greece on Thursday, and a similar alert was issued for the northeast of the country on Friday.

Greek authorities have said the country faces a major crisis this summer Highest wildfire risk in two decadesfollowing a mild and largely rainless winter and spring that left vegetation as dry as chewing gum.

Indeed, in 2023, Greece experienced one of the worst summer in its history for wildfiresduring which thousands of people were forced to leave their homes, causing incalculable damage to flora and fauna and biodiversity.

Meteorologists said temperatures were even higher than official figures in major cities, where sizzling concrete radiates heat upward and asphalt softens underfoot.

“It was impossible to breathe yesterday,” Antonela Spičanović said from Podgoricathe capital of Montenegrowhere temperatures reached 39C on Wednesday. The city appeared deserted, with many residents staying indoors or heading to the Adriatic coast or the mountains.

“I spend my days in the apartment, under the air conditioning,” said Đorđe Stanišić, an electrical engineer also from Podgorica. “It’s hell out there.”

Mendim Rugova, a meteorologist from Kosovo neighbor, said temperatures in the country have risen by an average of 2.5 degrees since the 1980s. He said the current heatwave could last until the end of July.

“In the region we could see temperatures above 40°C, in parts of Albania, in northern Macedonia, in Greece and also in parts of Serbia,” he predicted.

HAS Praguecapital of the Czech Republicwhere temperatures reached 34°C on Wednesday before dropping slightly on Thursday, the city zoo used ten tons of ice to relieve the animals, who really needed it.

Ice was strategically placed around the zoo yesterday, creating cool spots for animals to take refuge in during unusually high temperatures.

In the capital Romanian, Buchareststreet thermometers showed 42°C on Tuesday and Wednesday, although official measurements were a few degrees lower.

There Serbia Neighbouring France has recorded record temperatures since the start of summer, with thermostats reaching 35°C on Thursday morning in the north of the country.

In the capital Belgradedoctors said they treated people who collapsed, felt dizzy or complained of headaches due to the heat.

The World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus programme have already warned that theEurope is the fastest warming continentwhich has devastating health effects, with temperatures rising about twice as fast as the global average.

Serbian authorities said the use of air conditioning had led to huge electricity consumption, similar to levels normally seen in winter, when many residents of the Balkan country use electricity for heating.

During a previous heat wave, last month, THE Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia and Albania faced a major power outage due to the overload and collapse of a regional distribution line. Earlier this month, a powerful storm swept through the region after days of heat and killed two people, damaged homes by uprooting trees and flooded streets.

Experts say human-induced climate change is causing wild weather fluctuations, increasingly unpredictable storms and heat waves.