Italy’s Ministry of Health has issued an extreme heat warning for 12 cities as a wave of hot air from Africa swept across southern Europe and raised temperatures to more than 40 degrees Celsius, with the worst still to come.
Municipal authorities in several cities in Southern Europe and the Balkans have taken measures to care for the elderly, and special planes have been sent to extinguish fires in southern Italy and North Macedonia.
In Greece, municipalities have created air-conditioned spaces for citizens to cool off. In the hottest period of the day, certain forms of outdoor work, such as manual work, delivery and construction, are prohibited.
The temperature is expected to reach 42 degrees Celsius in several countries on Wednesday and Thursday. Spain’s National Meteorological Service said that thermometers in the coming days could show 44 degrees Celsius in the southern basin of the Guadalquivir River.
The management of the zoo in Rome plans to offer the animals ice cream later this week, AP reported.
In Albania, a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius is expected. In Tirana, the streets and cafes are almost empty, and a few people were seen using umbrellas for shelter.
High temperature and wind have fueled fires from the south to the north of the country for the past few weeks.
Photo: archive
