Latest news with #ElisabethBorne
The National
30-06-2025
- Climate
- The National
Europe swelters under heatwave as summer wildfires rage
Europe experienced its first major heatwave of the summer on Monday, as temperatures reached a record of 46°C in south-west Spain and early summer wildfires led to evacuations in southern France. Heat warnings have been issued in France, Spain, Italy and Portugal, with reports indicating that these are taking place earlier in the year than usual because of climate change. The maximum temperature ever recorded in Spain had previously been 45.2°C in Seville, in June 1965. Spain's national meteorological agency Aemet has issued amber and yellow warnings across most of mainland Spain, days after firefighters fought 15 wildfires on Saturday in Sicily. The heatwave is expected to be followed by storms, hail and strong winds. Madrid residents complained that there was no respite from the heat in the city. 'As the years go by, I feel Madrid is getting hotter, especially in the city centre,' one resident told France 24. 'It's very hot because there's very little greenery.' Record temperatures have also hit the sea, with the Mediterranean exceeding 26°C in the Balearic Islands, a threshold 'typical of mid-August", according to Aemet. In France, some 200 schools were totally or partially closed. 'It is imperative to organise alternative hosting solutions' for schoolchildren, said Education Minister Elisabeth Borne. At least 84 departments out of 92 have been placed under orange alert. The figure of 84 is 'unheard of', Minister for Ecological Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher told AFP. In southern France, stranded motorists were handed out water by state authorities after fires broke out in a mountainous area bordering Spain, forcing the evacuation of an abbey and a camping ground. The fires were caused by sparks coming out of a poorly adjusted trailer wheel brake, according to the office of the prefect of the department of Aude. French Labour Minister Catherine Vautrin said that she would issue a decree on Tuesday that obliges companies to adapt employees' work schedules to the heat. 'We have taken a further step to … ask companies to be more vigilant during these times of very intense heatwaves,' Ms Vautrin said. Wild life is are also suffering from the heat. 'The temperature can exceed 40°C in some nests. We are taking in birds in difficulty everywhere. Our seven care centres are saturated,' Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of French conservation organisation the League for the Protection of Birds, told AFP. Italian hospital emergency departments have reported a 10 per cent increase in heatstroke cases, said Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine. Victims are mostly 'the elderly, cancer patients, and homeless people suffering from dehydration, heatstroke, and fatigue', Mr Guarino said. Italian cities have taken measures to offer opportunities to cool down for the most vulnerable. In Venice, guided tours in air-conditioned museums are free for those over 75 years old. 'Climate shelters' have been installed in the northern city of Bologna and dehumidifiers have been distributed in Ancona, on the Adriatic coast. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN-mandated panel of climate experts, it is 'virtually certain' that the frequency and intensity of extreme heat and the duration of heatwaves have increased since 1950 and will continue to increase with global warming. It was the hottest opening day on record at the Wimbledon tennis tournament when it opened in south-west London on Monday. Temperatures reached a provisional high of 29.7°C at Kew Gardens in west London on Monday afternoon, surpassing the previous record of 29.3°C set in June 2001. Temperatures are set to climb to 34°C in one of the hottest June days on record. Researchers in the UK have predicted an elevated death toll as a result of the heat wave. A snap analysis from Imperial College London and the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine had predicted a total of 570 excess deaths due to heat exposure across England and Wales between June 19 and 22. Temperatures reached 32°C on the Saturday, with more than 250 excess deaths anticipated. A heatwave in July 2022, when temperatures reached 40°C, was estimated to have led to 1,100 excess deaths.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'Unprecedented' alerts in France as blistering heat grips Europe
A record number of heat alerts are in place across France as the country, and other parts of southern and eastern Europe, remain in the grip of soaring temperatures. Some 84 of 96 of France's mainland regions - known as departments - are currently under an orange alert - the country's second highest. France's Climate Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher has called it an "unprecedented" situation. Heat warnings are also in place for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, the UK and Balkan countries including Croatia. Both Spain and Portugal had their hottest June days on record at the weekend. El Granado in Andalucía saw a temperature of 46C on Saturday, while 46.6C was recorded in the town of Mora in central Portugal on Sunday. Many countries have emergency medical services on standby and are warning people to stay inside as much as possible. Nearly 200 schools across France have been closed or partially closed as a result of the heatwave, which has gripped parts of Europe for more than a week now but is expected to peak mid-week. Education Minister Elisabeth Borne said she was working with regional authorities over the best ways to look after schoolchildren or to allow parents who can to keep their children at home. Several forest fires broke out in the southern Corbières mountain range on Sunday, leading to evacuations and the closure of a motorway. They have since been contained, fire authorities told French media on Monday. Follow our live updates Top tips on how to sleep in the heat Meanwhile, 21 Italian cities are also on the highest alert - including Rome, Milan and Venice, as is Sardinia. Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, told AFP news agency that hospital emergency departments across the country had reported a 10% increase in heatstroke cases. Parts of the UK could see one of the hottest June days ever on Monday, with temperatures of 34C or higher possible in some parts of England. Much of Spain, which is on course to record its hottest June on record, also continues to be under heat alerts. "I can't sleep well and have insomnia. I also get heat strokes, I stop eating and I just can't focus," Anabel Sanchez, 21, told Reuters news agency in Seville. It is a similar situation in Portugal, where seven districts, including the capital, Lisbon, are on t he highest alert level. Meanwhile, the German Meteorological Service has warned that temperatures could reach almost 38C on Tuesday and Wednesday - further potentially record-breaking temperatures. Countries in and around the Balkans have also been struggling with the intense heat, although temperatures have begun to cool slightly. In Turkey, firefighters continue their efforts to put out hundreds of wildfires that have broken out in recent days. A fire in the Seferihisar district, 50km (30 miles) south-west of the resort city of Izmir, is being fuelled by winds and has already destroyed around 20 homes and some residential areas have had to be evacuated. Wildfires have also broken out in Croatia, where severe heat warnings are in place for coastal areas. Temperatures in Greece have been approaching 40C for several days and coastal towns near the capital Athens last week erupted in flames that destroyed homes - forcing people to evacuate. On Wednesday, Serbia reported its hottest day since records began, while a record 38.8C was recorded in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. In Slovenia, the hottest-ever June temperature was recorded on Saturday. The temperature in North Macedonia's capital, Skopje, reached 42C on Friday - and are expected to continue in that range. While the heatwave is a potential health issue, it is also impacting the climate. Higher temperatures in the Adriatic Sea are encouraging invasive species such as the poisonous lionfish, while also causing further stress on alpine glaciers that are already shrinking at record rates. While it is hard to link individual extreme weather events to climate change, heatwaves are becoming more common and more intense due to climate change. Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. Spain records temperature of 46C as Europe heatwave continues Southern Europe swelters as heatwave spreads
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'Unprecedented' alerts in France as blistering heat grips Europe
A record number of heat alerts are in place across France as the country, and other parts of southern and eastern Europe, remain in the grip of soaring temperatures. Some 84 of 96 of France's mainland regions - known as departments - are currently under an orange alert - the country's second highest. France's Climate Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher has called it an "unprecedented" situation. Heat warnings are also in place for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, the UK and Balkan countries including Croatia. Both Spain and Portugal had their hottest June days on record at the weekend. El Granado in Andalucía saw a temperature of 46C on Saturday, while 46.6C was recorded in the town of Mora in central Portugal on Sunday. Many countries have emergency medical services on standby and are warning people to stay inside as much as possible. Nearly 200 schools across France have been closed or partially closed as a result of the heatwave, which has gripped parts of Europe for more than a week now but is expected to peak mid-week. Education Minister Elisabeth Borne said she was working with regional authorities over the best ways to look after schoolchildren or to allow parents who can to keep their children at home. Several forest fires broke out in the southern Corbières mountain range on Sunday, leading to evacuations and the closure of a motorway. They have since been contained, fire authorities told French media on Monday. Follow our live updates Top tips on how to sleep in the heat Meanwhile, 21 Italian cities are also on the highest alert - including Rome, Milan and Venice, as is Sardinia. Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, told AFP news agency that hospital emergency departments across the country had reported a 10% increase in heatstroke cases. Parts of the UK could see one of the hottest June days ever on Monday, with temperatures of 34C or higher possible in some parts of England. Much of Spain, which is on course to record its hottest June on record, also continues to be under heat alerts. "I can't sleep well and have insomnia. I also get heat strokes, I stop eating and I just can't focus," Anabel Sanchez, 21, told Reuters news agency in Seville. It is a similar situation in Portugal, where seven districts, including the capital, Lisbon, are on t he highest alert level. Meanwhile, the German Meteorological Service has warned that temperatures could reach almost 38C on Tuesday and Wednesday - further potentially record-breaking temperatures. Countries in and around the Balkans have also been struggling with the intense heat, although temperatures have begun to cool slightly. In Turkey, firefighters continue their efforts to put out hundreds of wildfires that have broken out in recent days. A fire in the Seferihisar district, 50km (30 miles) south-west of the resort city of Izmir, is being fuelled by winds and has already destroyed around 20 homes and some residential areas have had to be evacuated. Wildfires have also broken out in Croatia, where severe heat warnings are in place for coastal areas. Temperatures in Greece have been approaching 40C for several days and coastal towns near the capital Athens last week erupted in flames that destroyed homes - forcing people to evacuate. On Wednesday, Serbia reported its hottest day since records began, while a record 38.8C was recorded in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. In Slovenia, the hottest-ever June temperature was recorded on Saturday. The temperature in North Macedonia's capital, Skopje, reached 42C on Friday - and are expected to continue in that range. While the heatwave is a potential health issue, it is also impacting the climate. Higher temperatures in the Adriatic Sea are encouraging invasive species such as the poisonous lionfish, while also causing further stress on alpine glaciers that are already shrinking at record rates. While it is hard to link individual extreme weather events to climate change, heatwaves are becoming more common and more intense due to climate change. Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. Spain records temperature of 46C as Europe heatwave continues Southern Europe swelters as heatwave spreads
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
France issues 'unprecedented' heat alerts as new week of soaring European temperatures starts
A record number of heat alerts are in place across France as the country, and other parts of southern and eastern Europe, remain in the grip of soaring 84 of 96 of France's mainland regions - known as departments - are currently under an orange alert - the country's second highest. France's Climate Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher has called it an "unprecedented" warnings are also in place for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, the UK and Balkan countries including Croatia. Both Spain and Portugal had their hottest June days on record at the weekend. El Granado in Andalucía saw a temperature of 46C on Saturday, while 46.6C was recorded in the town of Mora in central Portugal on Sunday. Many countries have emergency medical services on standby and are warning people to stay inside as much as possible. Nearly 200 schools across France have been closed or partially closed as a result of the heatwave, which has gripped parts of Europe for more than a week now but is expected to peak mid-week. Education Minister Elisabeth Borne said she was working with regional authorities over the best ways to look after schoolchildren or to allow parents who can to keep their children at home. Several forest fires broke out in the southern Corbières mountain range on Sunday, leading to evacuations and the closure of a motorway. They have since been contained, fire authorities told French media on Monday. Follow our live updatesTop tips on how to sleep in the heat Meanwhile, 21 Italian cities are also on the highest alert - including Rome, Milan and Venice, as is Sardinia. Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine, told AFP news agency that hospital emergency departments across the country had reported a 10% increase in heatstroke cases. Parts of the UK could see one of the hottest June days ever on Monday, with temperatures of 34C or higher possible in some parts of England. Much of Spain, which is on course to record its hottest June on record, also continues to be under heat alerts."I can't sleep well and have insomnia. I also get heat strokes, I stop eating and I just can't focus," Anabel Sanchez, 21, told Reuters news agency in Seville. It is a similar situation in Portugal, where seven districts, including the capital, Lisbon, are on t he highest alert level. Meanwhile, the German Meteorological Service has warned that temperatures could reach almost 38C on Tuesday and Wednesday - further potentially record-breaking temperatures. Countries in and around the Balkans have also been struggling with the intense heat, although temperatures have begun to cool slightly. In Turkey, firefighters continue their efforts to put out hundreds of wildfires that have broken out in recent days.A fire in the Seferihisar district, 50km (30 miles) south-west of the resort city of Izmir, is being fuelled by winds and has already destroyed around 20 homes and some residential areas have had to be have also broken out in Croatia, where severe heat warnings are in place for coastal in Greece have been approaching 40C for several days and coastal towns near the capital Athens last week erupted in flames that destroyed homes - forcing people to Wednesday, Serbia reported its hottest day since records began, while a record 38.8C was recorded in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. In Slovenia, the hottest-ever June temperature was recorded on temperature in North Macedonia's capital, Skopje, reached 42C on Friday - and are expected to continue in that the heatwave is a potential health issue, it is also impacting the climate. Higher temperatures in the Adriatic Sea are encouraging invasive species such as the poisonous lionfish, while also causing further stress on alpine glaciers that are already shrinking at record it is hard to link individual extreme weather events to climate change, heatwaves are becoming more common and more intense due to climate change. Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
LeMonde
30-06-2025
- Climate
- LeMonde
Heatwave forces some French schools to close, as others struggle to cope
High temperatures will once again disrupt the end of France's school year. The national weather service Météo-France issued an orange-level heatwave alert in 84 departments (out of 101), with temperatures expected to range from 34°C to 40°C between Monday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 2. Nearly 200 schools will be partially or fully closed at the start of the week, at the decision of municipal authorities. However, Education Minister Elisabeth Borne ruled out advancing the start of summer break, currently set for July 5. Speaking on the channel France 3, she called on Sunday for "case-by-case management" depending on the area, with school district heads and prefects taking the lead. "It's not an order from [the Education Ministry] that will solve the issue," said the former prime minister. Borne, advocating for "pragmatism" and "flexibility," nevertheless sent instructions to school district heads on Sunday to "remind them of the guidelines" in place during periods of extreme heat. Primary school students still have a week of classes left, while in middle and high schools, classes have largely ended due to exams or grading periods. Students in the penultimate year of high school are taking their French oral exams through July 4, while leavers have their final oral exams through July 2.
