Extreme heat is scorching parts of the world. Singapore travels are pressing on.
Young people jump into the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris as an early summer heatwave hits France.
SINGAPORE – Summer has scorched the mid-year travel season in June and July, continuing the trend of record-breaking heat that has swept continents in recent years.
In southern Spain and Portugal, the mercury is expected to hit a blistering 43 deg C, while 21 Italian cities, including Milan, Venice and Rome, have been placed on red alert for extreme heat – the highest warning level in the country.
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Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Straits Times
Texas girls' camp confirms 27 children, counsellors died in floods as search teams face more rain
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A search and rescue team searching for survivors along the Guadalupe River near Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, on July 7. KERRVILLE, Texas - A Christian all-girls camp in central Texas said on July 7 that 27 campers and counselors were among those who perished in the catastrophic flooding over the July 4 weekend, while emergency responders still searching for dozens of missing people faced the prospect of more heavy rains and thunderstorms. The death toll from July 4's floods has reached 78, including 28 children, and officials have said it is likely to rise as search teams waded through mud-laden riverbanks and flew over the flood-stricken landscape. The bulk of the dead were in the riverfront Hill Country Texas town of Kerrville, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said. The Guadalupe River that runs through Kerrville was transformed by pre-dawn torrential downpours into a raging torrent in less than an hour on July 4. The waters tore through Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old Christian girls' retreat on the banks of the Guadalupe River. 'Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,' the camp said in a statement on July 7. Mr Richard 'Dick' Eastland, 70, the co-owner and director of Camp Mystic, died trying to save the children at his camp during the flood, multiple media including the Austin American-Statesman reported. Eastland and his wife Tweety Eastland have owned the camp since 1974, according to the camp's website. 'If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for,' Mr Eastland's grandson, George Eastland, wrote on Instagram. In Hill Country where the worst flooding occurred, 5cm to 10cm of more rain were expected to fall, with isolated areas getting up to 25cm of rain, said Ms Allison Santorelli, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Centre in College Park, Maryland. Ms Santorelli said that the potential new floods could be particularly dangerous because of the water-saturated soil and all the debris already in and around the river. The weather service issued a flood watch through 7pm on July 7 in the region. State emergency management officials had warned on July 3, ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, that parts of central Texas faced the possibility of heavy showers and flash floods based on National Weather Service forecasts. Confluence of disaster But twice as much rain as was predicted ended up falling over two branches of the Guadalupe just upstream of the fork where they converge, sending all of that water racing into the single river channel where it slices through Kerrville, City Manager Dalton Rice said. Mr Rice and other public officials, including Governor Greg Abbott, said the circumstances of the flooding, and the adequacy of weather forecasts and warning systems, would be scrutinised once the immediate situation was brought under control. In the meantime, search-and-rescue operations were continuing around the clock, with hundreds of emergency personnel on the ground contending with a myriad of challenges. 'It's hot, there's mud, they're moving debris, there's snakes,' Mr Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters on July 6. Mr Thomas Suelzar, adjutant general of the Texas Military Department, said airborne search assets included eight helicopters and a remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper aircraft equipped with advanced sensors for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Officials said on July 5 that more than 850 people had been rescued, some clinging to trees, after the sudden storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain across the region, about 140km north-west of San Antonio. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on July 6 and was deploying resources to Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said. US Coast Guard helicopters and planes were aiding search and rescue efforts. First responders searches under a bridge that spans over the Guadalupe River, in Hunt, Texas, on July 6. PHOTO: EPA Scaling back federal disaster response Mr Trump said on July 6 that he would visit the disaster scene, probably on July 11. He has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government's role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves. Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm. Mr Trump's administration has overseen thousands of job cuts from the National Weather Service's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), leaving many weather offices understaffed, former Noaa director Rick Spinrad said. Mr Trump pushed back when asked on July 6 if federal government cuts hobbled the disaster response or left key job vacancies at the Weather Service under Mr Trump's oversight. 'That water situation, that all is, and that was really the Biden setup,' he said, referencing his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. 'But I wouldn't blame Biden for it, either. I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe.' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Fox News on July 7 that there did not appear to be a specific breakdown in the National Weather Service systems. 'The alerts went out several hours in advance, but the rise in the level of water, and how quickly that happened, just really was unprecedented for this area,' she said. REUTERS
New Paper
13 hours ago
- New Paper
S'pore travellers flock to popular destinations amid record heat
Summer has scorched the mid-year travel season in June and July, continuing the trend of record-breaking heat that has swept continents in recent years. In southern Spain and Portugal, the mercury is expected to hit a blistering 43 deg C, while 21 Italian cities, including Milan, Venice and Rome, have been placed on red alert for extreme heat - the highest warning level in the country. Wildfires have ravaged parts of Greece and Spain, prompting mass evacuations and deaths. Heat-related deaths have also been recorded in France and Italy. Closer to home, Japan recorded its hottest June since 1898, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. In the second half of the month, many parts of the country experienced temperatures exceeding 35 deg C for days at a stretch. In eastern China, cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou have hit highs of 35 to 39 deg C, while parts of the western Xinjiang region have experienced brutal heatwave conditions, with temperatures spiking above 45 deg C. Despite the searing heat, travel agencies in Singapore say bookings to popular regional and long-haul destinations remain robust during the peak summer months of June, July and August. "This period consistently sees demand, particularly for family-friendly destinations and experiences that cater to multi-generational travel. June is also a favourite as there are longer daylight hours across Europe and the Americas," says Mr Nick Lim, Asia chief executive of travel company The Travel Corporation (TTC). "Guests who choose to travel during this period are generally aware that it may be hotter and that there's a chance of encountering a heatwave. Many of our guests are also used to the heat year-round in Singapore and haven't considered heat as a deterrent." Chan Brothers Travel and ASA Holidays say destinations experiencing heatwaves have not seen a dip in interest, particularly during the school holidays. Ways to beat the heat But the heat is reshaping travel behaviour in certain market segments. Luxury tour operator Scott Dunn, for instance, has had more clients seeking cooler destinations. "In recent years, for travel during the summer period, we've been seeing a trend of guests favouring destinations with cooler climes instead of traditional summer beach holiday favourites," says Ms Gwen Ho, the company's team lead and Africa specialist. She lists the Nordics, Scotland, Ireland and Sri Lanka as recent popular alternatives. Japan recorded its hottest June since 1898, as temperatures climb to highs of 38 deg C in some parts of the country. PHOTO: AFP "Sometimes, we have guests who still opt to travel in months when the heat is at its highest - perhaps to escape crowds, enjoy better prices or maybe that's the only period they are available to travel," adds Ms Ho. Singaporean social media content manager Kames Narayanan, 32, left for a two-week holiday in Europe with friends in late June, travelling to Austria, Italy and Spain. They booked their flights in February. "The sun rises a lot earlier and sets much later in summer, and we spent many hours under the sun doing activities like hiking and going to the beach. In Singapore, I would never spend time outside in the midday heat unnecessarily. But on holiday, we wanted to make the most of our time," she says. In Alghero - a city on the north-west coast of Italian island Sardinia - where she and her friends stayed for four days, wildfires broke out near their accommodation. While they did not have to evacuate, Ms Narayanan was concerned about the situation. "Global warming is very real. My friends used to tell me to avoid travelling to Europe in August because of the summer heat, but now, it's only early July and it's already so hot," she says. Travellers are also packing differently. On social media, many recommend portable fans, cooling wipes and UV-protective fabrics as must-have items for hot weather in cities like Tokyo and London. Some are scheduling sightseeing in the early mornings or evenings, when temperatures are more forgiving. In Europe, Ms Narayanan applied sunscreen regularly and took cold showers in the morning and after activities. "I also bought electrolytes from the supermarket to add to drinking water, so I stayed hydrated. I always tried to wear a cap out. The heat was a good excuse to have more gelato, too," she adds. Attractions and tour operators are also ensuring the safety and comfort of guests. Scientists say human-induced climate change is making heatwave events more intense, frequent and widespread. PHOTO: AFP In France, the summit of the Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed after temperatures climbed to dangerous levels. At Tokyo Disneyland, park operators have been boosting water volume on the Splash Mountain ride to cool guests off with a much-needed soaking. Most tour agencies factor in heat safety - such as by providing air-conditioned transport, frequent water breaks and indoor activity options - but the rising unpredictability of weather is prompting more careful itinerary planning. TTC's Mr Lim says teams on the ground monitor weather conditions, and are trained to respond quickly and work flexibly to ensure guests remain safe. The same goes for Scott Dunn. "As destination experts, we often go on familiarisation trips to gain first-hand insights and do our best to pass on this knowledge to our guests," says Ms Ho. She cites a trip to Egypt in May, when she experienced extreme weather fluctuations. "Most guests are prepared for the heat, but they don't realise that once the sun goes down, nights can get quite cold. Even in hot months like June and July, night temperatures can sometimes dip to 25 deg C, so taking along a light jacket for layering is essential," she adds. "These may seem like small details, but they make a big difference. Having this first-hand local knowledge helps us to advise our guests to be better prepared and to enjoy their holiday whatever the season."
Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Straits Times
Wimbledon day eight
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 5, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his third round match against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Highlights of the eighth day at the Wimbledon tennis championships on Monday (times GMT): 1006 PLAY UNDER WAY Play began under overcast skies at the All England Club, with the temperature hovering around 17 degrees Celsius (62.6°F) and expected to climb to 21 degrees, and cool and dry conditions expected throughout the day. READ MORE: PREVIEW-Milestone hunter Djokovic set for De Minaur test Sabalenka stands tall, Norrie survives to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals You cannot be serious! Wimbledon line-calling system under fire after major glitch Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Eligible S'poreans to get up to $850 in GSTV cash, up to $450 in MediSave top-ups in August Singapore Four golf courses to close by 2035, leaving Singapore with 12 courses Singapore Fewer marriages and births in Singapore in 2024; greater stability for later cohorts Singapore Construction starts on Cross Island Line Phase 2; 6 MRT stations in S'pore's west ready by 2032 Asia 72-year-old man on diving trip to Malaysia's Pulau Tioman found dead on the beach Singapore $1.46b nickel scam: Ng Yu Zhi opts to remain silent after judge calls for his defence Asia Bali flights nixed after huge Indonesia volcano eruption Life How to cope with the heat when travelling: 5 expert-backed tips Anisimova ends Czech three-peat hopes with victory over Noskova Alcaraz resists red-hot Rublev to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals Norrie sees off ace-monster Jarry in thriller to reach last eight Siegemund stops lucky loser Sierra to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals Sabalenka passes Mertens test to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals Pavlyuchenkova beats Kartal to reach last eight despite line-calling glitch WIMBLEDON ORDER OF PLAY ON MONDAY (prefix number denotes seeding) CENTRE COURT (Play begins at 1230 GMT) 11-Alex de Minaur (Australia) v 6-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 7-Mirra Andreeva (Russia) v 10-Emma Navarro (U.S.) 1-Jannik Sinner (Italy) v 19-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) COURT NUMBER ONE (Play begins at 1200 GMT) 18-Ekaterina Alexandrova (Russia) v Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) 10-Ben Shelton (U.S.) v Lorenzo Sonego (Italy) 8-Iga Swiatek (Poland) v 23-Clara Tauson (Denmark) COURT NUMBER TWO (Play begins at 1000 GMT) Marin Cilic (Croatia) v 22-Flavio Cobolli (Italy) 19-Liudmila Samsonova (Russia) v Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Spain) REUTERS
