Europe is on fire. The newspapers this week have been full of sweltering temperatures across Europe. Communities in Spain and Greece – including holiday homes and summer camps for children – have been evacuated because of wildfires, and danger warnings have been issued in Italy, where temperatures are forecast to reach 48 degrees. Southern Europe is in the grip of an anticyclone called ‘Charon’ (named after the Greek mythology ferryman who carried the souls of the dead to the underworld).
The USA and China have also both reported temperatures of over 50 degrees this week.
Heatwaves and floods
Such high temperatures put lives in danger from fire as well as medical risks, and The World Meteorological Organization states that: ‘Heatwaves are amongst the deadliest natural hazards with thousands of people dying from heat-related causes each year.’
The high temperatures in Southern Europe look set to continue until August.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, such as Pakistan and India, extremely heavy rains have caused deaths and brought destruction through flooding and landslides.
Large swathes of East Africa are still facing severe hunger due to extended droughts followed by sudden flash floods in the region.
The climate is in crisis.