Europe wilts in heat

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Europe

02:05

Europe sweltered Saturday in intense heat with temperatures hitting near-record highs of 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit) in Portugal.

Here is a roundup:

Spain: three dead

In southern Spain, the heat continued to pound the tourist city of Cordoba reaching 44 degrees Celsius.

A fire on the border with France in Catalonia, northeast Spain, forced the closure of a highway between both countries for several hours.

People have dinner at a beach as temperatures soar across Europe, in Valencia, Spain, August 4, 2018. /VCG Photo

While in the southwest on the border with Portugal, strong winds and high temperatures were fanning the flames, according to the regional environment and rural affairs department.

At least 11 water-dropping planes and other aircraft were helping firefighters on the ground.

The soaring mercury has already claimed the lives of three people who died of heatstroke.

Portugal: peak heat, fire

The heatwave was expected to reach its peak on Saturday, said Paula Leitao of the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

Monchique fire /VCG Photo

In Monchique in the south, a forest fire raged on two fronts, aided by "a temperature of 46 degrees but a real feel of 50 degrees" and very little humidity in the air, Victor Vaz Pinto, head of rescue operations in the district, told local media.

Over 700 firefighters helped by 10 water-dropping planes and helicopters were working to put it out, according to Vaz Pinto and the civil protection agency.

People have been evacuated due to the forest fire. /VCG Photo

In Lisbon, authorities have closed playgrounds and called on people to avoid picnics and other outdoor activities.

Refuges for homeless people have also opened earlier during the day to allow them to take shelter from the crushing heat.

Austria: dogs fitted with shoes

In Vienna, police dogs due to patrol a beach volleyball tournament were fitted with special shoes.

People enjoy the warm weather on the banks of the river Seine during the "Paris Plages" event as the summer heatwave with high temperatures continues in Paris, France, August 4, 2018. /VCG Photo

Police said that even if temperatures were not excruciatingly hot, reaching just 34 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the dogs would have to spend hours walking on surfaces exposed to the sun that could easily go over 50 degrees Celsius, and would still need the shoes.

Netherlands: asphalt melting

In the Netherlands, authorities closed certain sections of highways where the heat had melted the asphalt.

The central city of Zwolle, meanwhile, started cutting the branches of some 100 poplar trees.

Dutch public television NOS explained that branches could break due to the heat and create danger for drivers or passers-by.

France: nuclear reactors close

A total of four nuclear reactors in France have been closed due to the heatwave.

People stand in a spray water to cool off as a summer heatwave with high temperatures continues in Paris, France, August 4, 2018. /VCG Photo

French power company EDF said the measures were taken to avoid temperature hikes in rivers. The nuclear plants draw water from rivers to cool down the reactors and then return it to the river.

Italy: health warnings

Italy too faced the summer's busiest day on the roads for the same reason as France and media reported one woman aged 79 had died from apparent heatstroke on a beach in the northwestern Liguria region.

Holiday-makers were expected to face adverse weather conditions wherever they went with no let-up in the scorching heat in the north and violent hailstorms forecast in parts of the south.

A man cools off as he stands on the bank of the Tiber river as temperatures soar throughout the country, in Rome, Italy, August 4, 2018. /VCG photo

This week, the Legambiente association for the defense of the environment published a report on the negative effects of heatwaves.

It revealed that in Lazio, the region where Rome is located, heatwaves had caused around 7,700 deaths since 2000.

Sweden: Relief

People cool off at a public fountain in Vienna, Austria, August 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

Following its hottest July in 250 years, rain showers gave Sweden some respite on Saturday across most of the country.

The mercury fell to more typical summer temperatures of around 20-25 degrees C, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute said.

Source(s): AFP