Hundreds of firefighters they released this wednesday “a huge battle” to contain forest fires in Greeceone of the countries most affected by the heat wave that suffocates Europe, Asia and North America.
From California to China, the authorities called on the population to take measures to protect themselves from the heat, hydrating properly and taking care of the sun.
Several regions of Europe are on red alert due to the “extreme danger” that high temperatures imply.
Hundreds of firefighters are fighting the fires in the Canary Islands archipelago but, above all, in Greece, where, for the third consecutive day, the “a huge battle” against the flames west of Athens and on the tourist island of Rhodes, according to the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias.
Given the forecast of a new heat wave starting Thursday, with temperatures reaching 44ºC on Friday and Saturday, “weather conditions are difficult” due to strong winds of up to 60 kilometers per hour blowing in some parts of the country and fanning the flames, the minister added.
Neighboring countries will send just over 200 firefighters as reinforcements.
Despite evacuation orders from the Greek authorities in some towns between 50 and 80 km from Athens, some residents refused to leave their homes.
“I am not leaving. I started building this house when I was 27 years old. I will stay here at least to watch it burn.”declared Dimitris Michaelous, in Pournari, northwest of the capital.
“It is suffocating”
In Spain “You can’t be on the street, it’s horrible”, lamented Lidia Rodríguez, a 29-year-old Sevillian visiting Madrid. “Since I am from Seville, I am used to the heat, but it is suffocating.”
Temperatures reached 45.3 ºC in Figueras, in the Catalonia region (northeast), and 43.7 ºC in the Balearic Islands, according to the Aemet meteorological agency.
And sea temperatures reached new highs, with an average of 24.6 °C on the coasts, that is, 2.2 °C more than normal temperatures for the season.
Temperature records were broken around the world on Tuesday and new heat waves are expected on Wednesday.
Beijing broke a 23-year record with 27 consecutive days of temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.
“At noon, I feel as if the sun burned my legs”said Qiu Yichong, a 22-year-old student.
Phoenix, the capital of Arizona in the southern United States, broke a similar record that had stood for 49 years, with its 19th consecutive day of temperatures of 43.3 degrees Celsius or higher, meteorological authorities said.
In the south of France, records were broken mainly in height in the Alps (east), the Pyrenees (west) and the island of Corsica. These records are between 8 °C and 11.9 °C above normal values.
“Fight Plan”
The UN called on the world to prepare for “more intense heat waves” and urged each person to make their own “fight plan” to cope with extreme temperatures.
And the WHO pointed out that heat waves are exerting a “greater pressure” on health systems.
In Italy, 20 cities are on red alert.
In Rome, the mercury reached 40°C, just below the local record of 40.5°C set in August 2007.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, the highest temperature recorded in Italy – which holds the heat record in Europe with 48.8°C measured in Sicily on August 11, 2021 – was 44°C in Ragusa, in the same region.
In the United States, meteorological services observe a heat wave “oppressive” in the south of the country and predict several record temperatures.
Firefighters fight violent fires that prompted evacuations of the population. The most important burned 3,200 hectares.
They are also fighting fires in neighboring Canada, with 885 active fires on Tuesday, 566 of them out of control, authorities announced. Two firefighters died fighting the flames.
Japan issued heat alerts in 32 of its 47 prefectures, with temperatures approaching the 2018 record of 41.1°C.
“The climate has clearly changed. Before, the temperature (in Yamanashi prefecture, near Tokyo) never reached 30°. Now yes”lamented Tomoya Abe, 50.
Source: AFP
Source: Gestion
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