A scorching heat wave has engulfed southern Europe, with temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. The extreme weather conditions have led to severe warnings and measures being taken to protect vulnerable populations.
The Italian health ministry placed 12 cities under the most severe heat warning on July 16, as a wave of hot air from Africa baked southern Europe and sent temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The worst was yet to come.
Croatia reported the highest-ever temperatures of the Adriatic Sea, with thermometers reaching nearly 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) at Dubrovnik, the country's most popular tourism spot. In Serbia, the state power company reported record consumption due to air conditioning use.
Municipal authorities in several southern European and Balkan cities took measures to look after elderly people during the heatwave. For instance, Rome declared a red weather alert and issued a digital app to help people locate public drinking fountains. In Tirana, Albania's capital, municipal authorities urged the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with health issues to avoid going out between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The heat wave has also led to wildfires in several countries including Italy and North Macedonia.
Aggravated by humidity, temperatures could affect healthy people as well as those with health conditions. Prague's city zoo delivered ten tons of ice for animals during unusually high temperatures. Doctors reported collapsing people and headaches due to the heat, while power consumption was similar to winter levels in some countries.
Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia and Albania faced a major power outage due to the extreme weather conditions. The highest wildfire risk in two decades this summer was reported in Greece's Corinth area and on the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesbos.
