A record-breaking heatwave that has caused hundreds of excess deaths and disrupted daily life across Europe for over a week continues to spread, with wildfires becoming a growing concern. Italy and the Balkans felt the impact of the heatwave on Monday, with Croatia issuing a red alert for regions including the capital Zagreb and the tourist destinations of Split and Dubrovnik. Dozens of firefighters, assisted by four aircraft, battled a wildfire burning pine forests on the tourist island of Vis in the Adriatic Sea.
Neighboring Serbia warned that temperatures would reach 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday, while Albania contained a wildfire that consumed many hectares of bushes and olive trees near the southern village of Klos over the weekend. In Western Europe, where temperatures have dipped from record June highs, there was a warning that the heat was likely to build again next week. Italy had 22 cities covered by a red heat warning on Monday, from Bolzano in the north to Palermo on the southern island of Sicily.
The heatwave, which began on June 20, set records for early summer and disrupted power generation, damaged infrastructure, and overwhelmed healthcare systems. France reported 1,000 excess deaths blamed on the heatwave, with most involving older people. The French public health agency warned that the number was expected to rise.
The heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change, according to scientists. The heatwave is expected to persist for a few more days in central and eastern Europe, with temperatures running 8-10 degrees Celsius above average. Temperatures are set to soar again from July 5 or 6, with the areas affected including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Britain.
The extreme heat increases the risk of forest fires, but rainstorms are also expected to mitigate that risk. Further tragedies related to the heat were reported over the weekend, including the deaths of two boys aged 8 and 10 from Bulgaria who were found dead in a hot car in Cyprus. Two cyclists, a 30-year-old and a 71-year-old, died while taking part in an event in the Poland Bike Marathon series in Marki near Warsaw.
Across the Atlantic, the National Weather Service warned of “dangerous heat” with temperatures in the 90s and lower 100s (degrees Fahrenheit) across much of central and eastern U.S. The combination of prolonged daytime heating and limited nighttime relief will increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for vulnerable populations and those without adequate cooling.
