Europe heatwave latest: Wildfires rip through Greece as France, Spain and Italy brace for record temperatures – UK Times

Google Maps shows several ‘estimated fires’ in southern Italy. According to satellite sources updated in the past six hours there are fires in Venosa, Province of Potenza, Isola di Capo Rizzuto, Province of Crotone, San Paolo di Civitate, Province of Foggia, Erchie, BR and in Sicily.

Tourists visiting the Acropolis used umbrellas and fans to protect themselves, while locals retreated indoors, as temperatures over 40C gripped the Greek capital on Friday.

Situated at Europe’s southernmost tip in the Mediterranean Sea, Greece has always had hot and dry summers.

But in recent years, climate change has led to longer and more severe heatwaves, as well as wildfires and destructive floods.

Workers had the option of switching to remote working to avoid possible heat exhaustion, while air-conditioned facilities were provided for the elderly.

“We have a really nice temperature in here,” 80-year-old Maro Marneri said at a community centre in Athens.

Tourists were less comfortable. “We are all from Pennsylvania and we have never really experienced a heatwave like this before,” Antonia Lasen said.

“At the Acropolis, we were all very hot and it was a little bit slippery to walk up, and the combination of the heat and the marble, I think it was hotter because of the cement, it was like a cement jungle almost, which is very hot.”

With extreme heat also comes violent storms. With heavy rain and storms hitting France and Germany.

Two people were killed and 17 injured during a storm in France that flooded the streets of Paris yesterday.

In the south of France, a falling tree crushed a 12-year-old child to death and a man died when his quad bike hit a toppled tee in the north.

The French civil defence agency said power was lost to 110,000 homes.

It’s not just Rome and Athens that are set to see scorching temperatures. The mercury could reach 34C degrees in London on Monday, according to the Met Office – but why are the UK’s highest temperatures usually in London?

Wildfires are frequent in Greece during its hot, dry summers.

In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.

But in recent years, climate change has led to longer and more severe heatwaves, as well as wildfires and destructive floods.

Heat maps reveal just how hot it could get in the coming days.

Temperatures are expected to be 5-10C above average, potentially reaching over 40C in popular holiday destinations.

The extreme heat will affect southern, western, and southeastern Europe, including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, and Germany, extending from this weekend into next week.

As the heatwave moves north through next week, weather experts warn temperatures in parts of Germany could near 40C by Wednesday.

Climatologist Dr Karsten Brandt from donnerwetter.de told German news outlet Bild“the big heat is coming”.

“Up to 40 degrees Celsius is possible by the middle of next week,” Dr Karsten said.

The forecasting site predicts the heat to remain above 30C for five days and above 35C for three during the upcoming German heatwave.

Frankfurt is expected to reach 38C on Wednesday, while in Berlin temperatures will reach 35C.

Mayor of Lavreotiki Dimitris Loukas said on Greece’s state-run ERT television that several houses were believed to have been damaged by the blaze, but added that exact information on property destruction was not immediately available.

The coast guard said two patrol boats and nine private vessels were on standby in the Palaia Fokaia area in case an evacuation by sea became necessary.

“We’re telling people to leave their homes,” town councillor Apostolos Papadakis said on Greece’s state-run ERT television.

Parts of the coastal road connecting Athens to Sounion were closed in both directions, with people urged to take alternate routes to leave the area.

Fire department spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said 40 people had been evacuated by police, while evacuation orders were issued for a total of five areas.