Europe (Washington Insider Magazine) – The intense heatwave across the world has shown no signs of abating, leaving residents in Asia, Europe, and North America scrambling for relief from the unforgiving temperatures. As extreme heat was forecast globally, firefighters battled blazes in Greece and the Canary Islands, while authorities from California to China warned about the health dangers posed by the searing temperatures, urging people to hydrate and seek shelter from the sun.
China
In China, tourists flocked to a giant thermometer displaying a staggering 80°C (176°F) on Wednesday, igniting both curiosity and chaos. Beijing recorded its 27th day of temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F), marking a new record for high-temperature days in a single year. The remote Turpan Depression saw a shocking maximum temperature of 52.2°C (126°F), breaking the previous national record of 50.3°C (122.5°F) set in 2015.
Greece
Wildfires raged for a third consecutive day west of Athens, with air water bombers resuming operations at dawn. Fire spokesman Yannis Artopios described it as “a difficult day,” with yet another heatwave expected to hit on Thursday, bringing temperatures up to 44°C (111°F). A forest fire near Loutraki led to the evacuation of 1,200 children from holiday camps.
Italy
In Italy, the islands of Sardinia and Sicily may surpass the continent-wide record of 48.8°C (120°F) recorded in Sicily in August 2021. In Cagliari, locals are reporting heat-related symptoms, raising concerns for public health.
Spain
In Spain, the heat is so intense that television presenter Silvia Intxaurrondo exclaimed, “We’re all suffocating!” during a broadcast as the nation faces its third heatwave of the summer. The national weather service declared the highest alert level for parts of Mallorca, Catalonia, and Aragon.
France
Southern France also experienced record-breaking temperatures, with 29.5°C (85.1°F) recorded at the Alpine resort of Alpe d’Huez and 40.6°C (105.1°F) in Verdun, marking the first time such high temperatures were documented in this region.
Canary Islands
In the Canary Islands, approximately 400 firefighters battled a wildfire that consumed 3,500 hectares (8,650 acres) of forest, prompting the evacuation of 4,000 residents and warnings about poor air quality.
United States
Meanwhile, tens of millions of Americans faced dangerously high heat levels this week. The National Weather Service warned of an “extremely dangerous and long-duration heatwave” continuing across the Southwest, with oppressive heat indices spreading across the south-central and southeast regions. In San Angelo, Texas, temperatures were expected to reach 40-42°C (104-108°F), with officials running out of ways to convey the severity of the heat. In Arizona, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport recorded 43.3°C (110°F) on Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 18 consecutive days at or above that temperature, set in 1974.
As the global heatwave continues to wreak havoc, the urgent need for preparedness and awareness has never been more critical.