Large parts of Europe are continuing to swelter through heatwave conditions as wildfires burn out of control in multiple countries. The world's fastest-warming continent, Europe is becoming increasingly prone to heatwaves, droughts and destructive wildfires.
Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
Successive early summer heatwaves in Europe have pushed temperatures to record levels, causing fires, water shortages and thousands of excess deaths.
Spared the hot weather that ravaged much of Europe in June, Greece has sweltered through their first heatwave of the year.
With temperatures exceeding 40 degrees [[CELSIUS]], Hellenic Red Cross workers in Athens set up water stations and are handing out fliers with safety measures.
Hellenic Red Cross’s Health Coordinator Ioanna Fotopoulou says nurses are on hand to help with any cases of heatstroke.
“They need to be informed about the protection measures that need to be taken during their visit here in Acropolis. Also they are asking for water, it’s very important-hydration, it’s very important to avoid heatstroke and also they ask for hats, for sun cream, and today we distribute all of this in order to convenience their visit to the Acropolis.”
Meteorologists in Greece have described the event as a three-day miniature heatwave, advising against outdoor work during peak daylight hours.
Unfazed by the heat, Australian tourist Adrian Weinbrecht says it's all about being prepared.
“I quite like the heat, I think we talk ourselves into being hotter than we actually are, and then it’s a matter of being prepared so I have got a water bottle with electrolytes in it, a good hat, cool clothes, yeah, I mean we can all read a forecast so it’s not too bad.”
Neighbouring Albania is also experiencing its most intense heatwave of the year, with temperatures exceeding 40 and remaining at 27 overnight.
Tirana resident Ferid Salihu says everyone should drink plenty of water.
"I swear to God, the temperature is very high today. Today it is 42 degrees. Without cold water, this can't be fought. I call on citizens wherever they are to consume as many refreshing things as possible, such as watermelon, cold water, and to drink as much as possible."
In Italy, temperatures in Sicily have also exceeded 40 degrees, sparking multiple wildfires on the island.
Farmer Marco Barbaccia says a wind-fuelled wildfire has destroyed this year's olive crop.
"Despite all the precautions we took, including firebreaks and other measures, the speed of the wind, and therefore of the fire, was so great that the flames crossed even six- to eight-metre-wide firebreaks and reached the olive groves. We were unable to save anything. We lost both this year’s harvest and the trees themselves, which means losing future production of Sicilian extra virgin olive oil as well."
Spanish firefighters are also struggling to contain their largest wildfire of the year, which continues to rage uncontrollably into a sixth day.
Experiencing its third heatwave of the year, Spanish authorities warn high temperatures will push wildfire danger to extreme levels.
In Hijes, 40-year-old Catalina is among a group of residents who have joined forces with authorities to fight the fires.
SPANISH THEN ENGLISH VO: “Can you see how the burnt bark is falling here? They can travel for kilometres and as soon as they land on the grass, it burns. A fire starts, and if you don’t stop it, we don’t know how far it will go. They turn into new fire outbreaks that spread. That’s what we need to watch out for. This one is specifically located next to our town.”
Fires are also burning in France, with two firefighters killed in the Gironde region and 500 hectares burnt in southern France.
Meanwhile, the UK Met Office predicts that temperatures will remain above average next month.
England has seen just three per cent of average rainfall in July, plunging the country into a 'prolonged dry weather' stage, one step away from a drought.
Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science at the University of Reading Hannah Cloke says extended periods of heat bring new threats to health and the environment.
“We've always had heatwaves in this country. What is notable here is the sustained high temperatures and right now we're also in a very dry period. So on top of those hot temperatures, we've also got drought to consider and wildfire risk. And we've flipped into this kind of scenario now where we are living through temperatures that are making us very uncomfortable. When we had that red warning for heat out, that meant that even healthy people were in trouble because of the hot temperatures that we had, and that is new and that is directly because of climate change and because we've been burning fossil fuels and putting that into our atmosphere."
Parts of the country have had no rain at all in July, a dry spell the Environment Agency says England has not seen in around three decades.
Professor Cloke says the world needs to prepare for more hot and dry weather in the future.
"This is what the future looks like and it's been really uncomfortable this week and the previous weeks when we've had very high temperatures and tropical nights and we've seen lots of excess deaths. So this is something we need to prepare for better in the future."
