Extreme Heat Persists in Europe
A heat wave continues to pummel Central and Southern Europe, resulting in record temperatures for people across the continent.
The heat wave began more than one week ago and has resulted in deaths, wildfires, and adjustments to or closures of tourist attractions and events. Throughout, health ministries and weather agencies have issued heat alerts.
The Mediterranean marine heat wave—where the ocean’s heat contributes to land temperature spikes—is registering up to 9 degrees above the average marine temperature. This is also increasing humidity in the region and keeping temperatures higher even during the night. The current heat wave also involves hot air flowing northward from Africa, according to CNN.
The impacts of a heat wave are more than uncomfortable—they can also be fatal. The World Health Organization found that there were approximately 489,000 heat-related deaths each year between 2000 and 2019. This makes it crucial to identify the symptoms of heat-related illnesses, which pose a greater risk to childern, people with underlying illness, and women who are pregnant.
France
Mourmelon-le-Grand in northeastern France reached the nation's highest temperatures of more than 104 F (40 C) on 2 July, according to its national weather service, Météo-France.
Sixteen other French regions were under red heat wave warnings (the highest designation) on 1 July. In Paris, extreme temperatures triggered officials to close the top of the Eiffel Tower on 1 and 2 July. The attraction’s website apologized for the closure and reminded hope-dashed visitors to take proper precautions against the sun and heat.
“France’s ecological transition minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher said earlier that two heat-related fatalities had been recorded in France and that more than 300 people had been given emergency care,” the BBC reported.
A 10-year-old American child collapsed in front of her parents and died, despite the efforts of emergency services, while visiting the Palace of Versailles on 1 July, the BBC added.
Wimbledon
The United Kingdom is also enduring higher temperatures, right as the nation's iconic tennis championship gets into swing. Wimbledon recorded its hottest opening day with temperatures reaching 29.7 degrees Celsius (85.5 degrees Fahrenheit) by mid-day.
The championship has a “heat rule” policy when the temperatures reach 86.2 degrees Fahrenheit (30.1 degrees Celsius) or higher. Players can ask for a 10-minute break in play to leave the tennis court, according to CNN.
Spain
Four people died in Spain during the heat wave, two attributed to the heat and the other two died in wildfires.
The nation’s meteorological agency, Aemet, recorded temperatures greater than 109 F (43 C) earlier this week, with some regions climbing up to 114.8 F (46 C) during the weekend, a record-high for June. Although temperatures have begun to decrease, weather warnings remain in place for nine of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions, with temperatures expected to reach 108 F (42 C) on 3 July in Seville.
Italy
The country’s health ministry issued its highest-level heat alert for 18 cities on Thursday, including Milan and Rome. The alert indicated that the emergency heat conditions can pose a health risk to all persons, regardless of their pre-existing health.
“I think anybody that’s ever been exposed to a level of exertion in extreme heat knows the physical and mental impact that it took upon you or can take upon anyone,” said David LaRose, CPP, Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator, national director of healthcare security for Garda World, in a past interview with Security Management.
Two men died in Italy after becoming unwell on beaches “on the island of Sardinia, and a man in his 80s died of heart failure, after walking into a hospital in Genoa,” the BBC reported.
Elsewhere
In Central Europe, several areas across Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovakia were under red warnings for extreme heat on Thursday. Temperatures in these areas were expected to reach up to 104 F (40C).
In Germany, temperatures began to drop on 3 July after rising to highs of up to 104 F (40 C) in some areas.
In Greece, wildfires continue to be a threat because conditions are hot and dry.
“The Greek authorities said that arid conditions have exacerbated a wild fire on the island of Crete, and that gale-force winds were making it difficult for firefighters to bring the blaze under control,” The New York Times reported. “A fire on the island of Khíos earlier this week burned 6,000 hectares, or nearly 15,000 acres, of forest.”
Meanwhile, four wildfires were still active in Portugal's north and central regions on Thursday.
Wildfires also raged in Turkey, where more than 50,000 people were temporarily evacuated out of threatened regions. So far, 79 people have been treated for minor injuries and one person was hospitalized, according to the Times.
Extreme heat has become a recurring concern for much of the world in recent years. Security Managementrecently published a series of articles focused on this topic.
To learn more about how different sectors are managing outdoor responsibilities even during high heat, check out “New Extremes: Heat Safety Amid Rising Temperatures.”
To learn how to spot the symptoms of a heat-related illness, as well as how to respond and help someone suffering, watch “Fast Facts: Identifying Heat-Related Illnesses.”
