Parts of Europe are sweltering under intense heat, with authorities warning of rising wildfire risks and severe health impacts linked to high temperatures,
Euronews reports.
Major heatwaves across southern Europe have pushed temperatures above 40°C in countries including Italy, Spain and Greece, as local authorities issued fresh warnings against the risk of wildfires.
A heat dome hovered over an arc from France, Portugal and Spain to Turkey, while data from European forecasters suggested other countries were set to broil further in the coming days.
New highs are expected on Wednesday before rain is forecast to bring respite to some areas later this week.
Experts link the rising frequency and intensity of these heatwaves to climate change, warning that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common across Europe's southern region.
“Extreme heat is no longer a rare event - it has become the new normal,” tweeted UN Secretary-General António Guterres from Seville, Spain, where temperatures were expected to hit 42°C on Monday afternoon.
Reiterating his frequent calls for action to fight climate change, Guterres added: “The planet is getting hotter & more dangerous — no country is immune.”
