A mass heatwave affecting Europe began near the end of June and continues to break records in many European nations. The heatwave began in the Mediterranean and quickly reached France, Spain, and Portugal, and continued toward areas like the U.K., Greece, and Italy. Italy and the U.K. declared a state of emergency, along with many other European countries.
Researchers found that the European heatwaves occurred when a jet stream had temporarily split in two, leaving an area of weak winds and high-pressure air, creating an extreme heat buildup (Indian Express). The heatwave resulted in further discussions by many European leaders to push green energy to cut planet-warming emissions by 55 percent by 2030.
“Heatwaves have become more frequent, intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change. The world has already warmed by about 34 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1C) since the industrial era began,” according to NASA. Rising temperatures result mainly from the burning of fossil fuels.
The head of France’s firefighters’ federation warned of the impact of global warming on civil protection. “It’s firefighters, civil security who deal with the effects daily - and these effects aren’t in 2030, they’re right now,” said Grégory Allione.
Portugal’s temperatures have soared to 116 degrees Fahrenheit (47 C), leaving the countryside bone dry. Spain’s EFE news agency reported that more than 1000 people have died from heat exposure in both Spain and Portugal.
“We expect the heat to continue but lessen each passing day,” Spain’s state meteorological agency AEMET reported.
Another deadly consequence of the heatwave have been wildfires. Thousands of firefighters battle wildfires in Portugal, Spain, southwestern France, and southern Spain near the Costa del Sol and many other parts of Europe. Germany, Portugal, Poland, and Spain account for the most deaths due to the wildfires. Thousands of others across Europe fled to shelters, with many blaming the cause of the wildfires on climate change (BBC).
Civilians in Spain’s Torremolinos Beach saw smoke rising in the mountain. Planes dropped fire retardant substances, and helicopters shuttled to and from the coast, collecting seawater to douse the flames.
In northern Morocco fires swept through the Larache, Ouezzane, Taza and Tetouan provinces. One village was destroyed in the Ksar El Kebir area. Firefighters in Greece are tackling blazes in the Frieza area, about 31 miles south-east of Athens, and near Rethymno, on the north coast of Crete. Seven villages have been evacuated near Rethymno.
The French government forced the evacuation of some 16,200 people to protect villages close to wildfire hotspots. A French resident described the fires as feeling “post-apocalyptic.” The fire, south of Bordeaux, ravaged nearly 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of land as more than 3000 firefighters attempted to control the blaze (BBC).
As heatwaves and continuous wildfires continue to ravage parts of Europe, government officials are providing aid and instructions on how to best maintain safety, such as staying indoors, keeping hydrated, and staying in shaded areas. In the long run, government officials hope on preventing these conditions from happening again by making changes within their societies to promote leaving less carbon admissions.
By Alexander Fernandez
LNT Reporter