Latest news with #CopernicusClimateChangeService
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Khaleej Times
France shuts schools, Italy limits work outdoors in 'exceptional' European heatwave
Italy limited work outdoors, France shut schools and Turkey battled wildfires on Tuesday in a European heatwave that meteorologists said was "exceptional" for striking so early this year. Spain confirmed its hottest June on record, while temperatures passed 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) in some of its cities on Tuesday. Likewise, heat scaled to reach 40 degrees in the Italian city of Trento, while northern European cities such as London were also sweltering. Europe is heating up at twice the global average speed and is the world's fastest-warming continent, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service has said. "What is exceptional ... but not unprecedented is the time of year," said World Meteorological Organization spokesperson Clare Nullis. Europe was experiencing extreme heat episodes "which normally we would see later on in the summer," she said. Some countries issued health alerts and trade unions attributed the death of a construction worker near the Italian city of Bologna on Monday to the heat. Outdoor work was banned in some Italian regions during the hottest hours of the day as Italy issued heatwave red alerts for 17 cities, including Milan and Rome. Power outages, likely caused or aggravated by spiking electricity consumption from air conditioners, were reported in central Florence and in the northern city of Bergamo. In Sicily, a woman with a heart condition died while walking in the city of Bagheria, news agencies reported. In the Spanish city of Barcelona, authorities were looking into whether the death of a street sweeper at the weekend was heat-related. The Red Cross set up an air-conditioned "climate refuge" for residents in Malaga in southern Spain, said a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Turkey continued to battle the wildfires that forced the temporary evacuation of around 50,000 people on Monday in areas surrounding the city of Izmir and in the nearby province of Manisa, as well as Hatay in the southeast. In France, nearly 1,900 schools were closed, up from around 200 on Monday. The heat was set to peak in France on Tuesday at 40-41 C in some areas, weather forecaster Meteo France said. RECORD TEMPERATURES Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a cause of climate change, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet's hottest on record. "We keep hearing about climate change. I think we're definitely feeling it now," said Omar Bah, a rental company worker said in London, where temperatures hit 32 C. The Mediterranean Sea hit a record 30 C off Spain, six degrees above the seasonal average, Spanish weather forecaster AEMET said, as a high pressure system trapped hot air above Europe - a phenomenon known as a heat dome. Nullis said higher temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea tend to reinforce extreme temperatures over land areas. The average temperature in Spain was 23.6 C last month, weather agency AEMET said. Copernicus said June probably ranks among the five warmest on record, Copernicus said. England had its hottest June since at least 1884, the Met Office national weather service said, citing provisional data. A Paris-Milan rail service was disrupted because of a mudslide on the French side of the Alps, with full service not expected to be fully restored until mid-July, French rail operator SNCF said. The top floor of the Eiffel Tower was closed, disappointing scores of visitors. "I tried to get all organised before our departure and the result is nonsense," said Laia Pons, 42, a teacher from Barcelona who booked Eiffel tickets for her family three years ago. When temperatures rise, the puddled iron used to build the Eiffel Tower expands in size and tilts slightly, with no impact on its structural integrity, according to its website. The scorching temperatures have raised the risk of field fires as farmers in France, the European Union's biggest grain producer, start harvesting this year's crop, with many working through the night to avoid peak afternoon temperatures.
See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- Climate
- See - Sada Elbalad
2 Dead in Wildfire Amid Record Heatwave Across Spain
Israa Farhan Two people have been confirmed dead following a wildfire in Lleida province, Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, as the country grapples with an unprecedented heatwave sweeping across much of Europe. Emergency and fire services issued a statement confirming the discovery of two bodies near the town of Coscó. The tragic incident occurred as multiple wildfires ignited in the region, forcing local authorities to order approximately 14,000 residents to remain indoors for safety. Catalonia's regional leader, Salvador Illa, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, which come amid an escalating environmental and public health crisis. Earlier in the day, a separate tragedy was reported in the region when a two-year-old child died after being left inside a parked car under the sun in the city of Valls, north of Tarragona. The fires come as Spain endures one of its most intense heatwaves on record. In early July 2025, temperatures soared beyond 46°C in parts of the country such as Huelva, pushing emergency services to the limit. Spain also recorded its hottest June in history, with an average temperature of 23.6°C, while Mediterranean Sea surface temperatures have reached record highs, fuelling further climate concerns. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is heating faster than the global average, with heatwaves starting earlier, lasting longer, and posing increasing health and environmental risks. The World Health Organization has warned of a significant rise in heat-related fatalities, projecting that more than 4,500 people could die in Europe in the coming days. Authorities are urging preventive measures including staying hydrated, avoiding outdoor exposure during peak heat hours, and prioritising the safety of vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses. As wildfires spread and the mercury continues to climb, Europe faces growing pressure to adapt to the intensifying effects of climate change. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence"
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Climate
- Qatar Tribune
Health alerts, risk of field fires as heatwave sweeps across Europe
A blistering early summer heatwave is making its way from the Iberian Peninsula northwards across Europe, forcing thousands of schools to close in France and prompting health warnings. The Mediterranean Sea was warmer by up to 6 degrees Celsius (10.8 degrees Fahrenheit) than usual for the time of year, hitting a record of as much as 30C (86F) in Spain's Balearic Sea as a heat dome trapped hot air above Europe, the country's weather forecaster Aemet said. According to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, experiencing a temperature increase twice the global average. This causes extreme heatwaves earlier in the year and persists into later months. French forecaster Meteo-France said the heat in France was set to peak on Tuesday, reaching 40-41C (104-106F) in some areas and 36-39C (97-102F) in others. The country had experienced its hottest June day on record on Monday. Sixteen departments will be at the highest level of alert from noon, with 68 at the second-highest level. The Education Ministry said some 1,350 schools will be fully or partially closed due to the heat, up significantly from about 200 on Monday. The top floor of the Eiffel Tower will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, and visitors are advised to drink plenty of water. The extreme heat also raised the risk of field fires as farmers in France, the European Union's biggest grain producer, start harvesting this year's crop. Some farmers worked through the night to avoid harvesting during peak afternoon temperatures. In the Indre region of central France, which has seen a spate of field fires since late June, authorities banned fieldwork between 2pm (12:00 GMT) and 6pm (16:00 GMT). As far north as the Netherlands, some regions were placed on the second-highest alert on Tuesday, with temperatures forecast to reach 38C (100F). In Amsterdam, extra measures were taken to protect the homeless, while officials in Eindhoven and Arnhem deployed teams to check in on vulnerable elderly people. Schools in Rotterdam and across West Brabant have adopted 'tropical schedules', which involve shorter hours and additional water breaks for pupils to reduce heat exposure. Health alerts have been issued across Europe, with residents and tourists alike seeking ways to keep cool. According to insurance company Swiss Re, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually around the world. This exceeds the combined death toll from floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a key cause of climate change, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet's hottest on record.
RTHK
2 days ago
- Climate
- RTHK
Europe heatwave shuts schools, limits outdoor work
Europe heatwave shuts schools, limits outdoor work A staff member tries to cool off residents at a Belgium elderly home with a mist moisturiser. Photo: Reuters Italy limited work outdoors, France shut schools and Turkey battled wildfires on Tuesday in a European heatwave that meteorologists said was "exceptional" for striking so early this year. Spain confirmed its hottest June on record, while temperatures passed 40 degrees Celsius in some of its cities on Tuesday. Likewise, heat scaled to reach 40 degrees in the Italian city of Trento, while northern European cities such as London were also sweltering. Europe is heating up at twice the global average speed and is the world's fastest-warming continent, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service has said. "What is exceptional ... but not unprecedented is the time of year," said World Meteorological Organization spokesperson Clare Nullis. Europe was experiencing extreme heat episodes "which normally we would see later on in the summer," she said. Some countries issued health alerts and trade unions attributed the death of a construction worker near the Italian city of Bologna on Monday to the heat. Outdoor work was banned in some Italian regions during the hottest hours of the day as Italy issued heatwave red alerts for 17 cities, including Milan and Rome. Power outages, likely caused or aggravated by spiking electricity consumption from air conditioners, were reported in central Florence and in the northern city of Bergamo. In Sicily, a woman with a heart condition died while walking in the city of Bagheria, news agencies reported. In the Spanish city of Barcelona, authorities were looking into whether the death of a street sweeper at the weekend was heat-related. The Red Cross set up an air-conditioned "climate refuge" for residents in Malaga in southern Spain, said a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Turkey continued to battle the wildfires that forced the temporary evacuation of around 50,000 people on Monday in areas surrounding the city of Izmir and in the nearby province of Manisa, as well as Hatay in the southeast. In France, nearly 1,900 schools were closed, up from around 200 on Monday. Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a cause of climate change, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet's hottest on record. (Reuters)
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Climate
- Express Tribune
France shuts schools, Italy curbs outdoor work as Europe swelters in heatwave
A tourist holding an umbrella to protect himself from the sun walks at Trocadero square next to the Eiffel Tower as an early summer heatwave hits Paris, France. PHOTO: REUTERS Italy limited work outdoors, France shut schools and Turkey battled wildfires on Tuesday in a European heatwave that meteorologists said was "exceptional" for striking so early this year. Spain confirmed its hottest June on record, while temperatures passed 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) in some of its cities on Tuesday. Likewise, heat scaled to reach 40 degrees in the Italian city of Trento, while northern European cities such as London were also sweltering. Europe is heating up at twice the global average speed and is the world's fastest-warming continent, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service has said. "What is exceptional ... but not unprecedented is the time of year," said World Meteorological Organization spokesperson Clare Nullis. Europe was experiencing extreme heat episodes "which normally we would see later on in the summer," she said. Some countries issued health alerts and trade unions attributed the death of a construction worker near the Italian city of Bologna on Monday to the heat. Outdoor work was banned in some Italian regions during the hottest hours of the day as Italy issued heatwave red alerts for 17 cities, including Milan and Rome. Power outages, likely caused or aggravated by spiking electricity consumption from air conditioners, were reported in central Florence and in the northern city of Bergamo. In Sicily, a woman with a heart condition died while walking in the city of Bagheria, news agencies reported. In the Spanish city of Barcelona, authorities were looking into whether the death of a street sweeper at the weekend was heat-related. The Red Cross set up an air-conditioned "climate refuge" for residents in Malaga in southern Spain, said a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Turkey continued to battle the wildfires that forced the temporary evacuation of around 50,000 people on Monday in areas surrounding the city of Izmir and in the nearby province of Manisa, as well as Hatay in the southeast. In France, nearly 1,900 schools were closed, up from around 200 on Monday. The heat was set to peak in France on Tuesday at 40-41 C in some areas, weather forecaster Meteo France said. Record temperatures Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a cause of climate change, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet's hottest on record. "We keep hearing about climate change. I think we're definitely feeling it now," said Omar Bah, a rental company worker said in London, where temperatures hit 32 C. The Mediterranean Sea hit a record 30 C off Spain, six degrees above the seasonal average, Spanish weather forecaster AEMET said, as a high pressure system trapped hot air above Europe - a phenomenon known as a heat dome. Nullis said higher temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea tend to reinforce extreme temperatures over land areas. The average temperature in Spain was 23.6 C last month, weather agency AEMET said. Copernicus said June probably ranks among the five warmest on record, Copernicus said. England had its hottest June since at least 1884, the Met Office national weather service said, citing provisional data. A Paris-Milan rail service was disrupted because of a mudslide on the French side of the Alps, with full service not expected to be fully restored until mid-July, French rail operator SNCF said. The top floor of the Eiffel Tower was closed, disappointing scores of visitors. "I tried to get all organised before our departure and the result is nonsense," said Laia Pons, 42, a teacher from Barcelona who booked Eiffel tickets for her family three years ago. When temperatures rise, the puddled iron used to build the Eiffel Tower expands in size and tilts slightly, with no impact on its structural integrity, according to its website. The scorching temperatures have raised the risk of field fires as farmers in France, the European Union's biggest grain producer, start harvesting this year's crop, with many working through the night to avoid peak afternoon temperatures.
