Spain has issued “extreme” danger alerts in three regions due to scorching temperatures, while firefighters have reported that a long-lasting blaze in the Canary Islands is nearly extinguished.
The mercury soared to 45.3 degrees Celsius (113.5 Fahrenheit) in Figueres, the hometown of Salvador Dali in the northeastern Catalonia region, and reached 43.7 degrees Celsius in the Balearic Islands, according to the AEMET weather agency.
A red alert for extreme heat was issued for both regions, along with Aragon in the northeast, advising people to avoid the blistering sun during the hottest hours and maintain proper hydration.
“We are now past the halfway point of July, and so far, nearly every day has experienced above-average temperatures. In fact, the first 17 days of July rank as the third-warmest on record, after 2022 and 2015,” tweeted AEMET.
Lidia Rodriguez, a 27-year-old visitor from Seville, admitted that she was accustomed to the heat, but found the temperatures in Madrid “suffocating.”
“You can’t be outside on the street, it’s horrible, horrible, horrible,” she told AFP.
The interior ministry has declared a “very high” or “extreme” risk of wildfires throughout much of Spain due to the soaring temperatures, which are affecting most of the Mediterranean.
Since Saturday, hundreds of firefighters have been battling a wildfire in La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, with the assistance of nine water-carrying aircraft. However, cooler overnight temperatures and increased air humidity have aided firefighters in gaining control over the blaze.
By Tuesday evening, the fire seemed to be in its final stages and close to being extinguished, according to Federico Grillo, one of the experts involved in the firefighting efforts, who wrote on Twitter.
The fire has resulted in the destruction of approximately 3,500 hectares (8,700 acres) of land, including around 20 houses and buildings, and forced the evacuation of 4,000 residents from an island that experienced a three-month volcanic eruption just two years ago.
Local authorities are urging residents in several towns to limit their time outdoors and wear face masks due to the poor air quality caused by the wildfire.
This is Spain’s third heatwave of the summer. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves to climate change.
As global temperatures continue to rise, heatwaves are expected to become more frequent and severe, with far-reaching impacts.
“For the past five to ten years, each year has been hotter,” said Jose Luis Llamas, a 66-year-old resident of Madrid.
“We need to take action. Each country should implement measures to address this problem,” he added.
© 2023 AFP
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‘It’s horrible’: Spain sweats through day 2 of heatwave (2023, July 18)
retrieved 18 July 2023
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