01-07-2025
Record-breaking temperatures as Europe swelters under heat dome
Temperature records have been broken and health warnings issued as a heatwave continues to cover much of Europe.
Barcelona recorded its hottest month of June since records began over a century ago, according to Spain's national weather service.
Spanish meterologists also announced that Barcelona had recorded its hottest June temperature on Monday, a single-day high of 37.9C.
Health warnings also remained in effect Tuesday in several European countries, after being issued on Monday for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and the UK.
In France more than 1,300 schools were fully or partially closed on Tuesday, as the country issued red danger-to-life heat warnings.
Temperatures are expected to reach higher than 40C in many parts of the country.
Tourists hoping to visit the Eiffel Tower were told to postpone their visits, as the summit of the city's landmark was closed until Thursday.
On Monday the peak of Mont Blanc, which is located in France, also reached temperatures above freezing for the first time ever in June.
While Europe's highest mountain will sometimes record a temperature above freezing at its summit, it has never happened this early in the summer.
However, the summit remained at or above freezing for over 24 hours on Monday.
Belgium also had to temporarily close one of its landmarks, as temperatures were expected to reach as high as 37C.
One of its most popular tourist attractions, The Atomium, has been partially closed due to the extreme heat and structural limitations of the building.
Portugal also saw its highest single temperature for the month of June.
The countries' weather service issued a statement on Monday night confirming a scorching heat of 46.6C, recorded on June 29.
The old record was 44.9C in 2017, meaning the new one eclipses it by over 1.7 degrees.
While in Italy, 17 of the countries 27 major cities were experiencing a heatwave, according to the health ministry on Tuesday.
Near Bologna, a 46-year-old construction company owner collapsed and died while repaving a school parking lot, according to Italy's national broadcaster.
The heat was suspected as the possible cause of death, with an autopsy being conducted to find the truth.
Firefighters across Turkey tried to contain wildfires for a third consecutive day on Tuesday.
The fires have damaged dozens of homes and forced 50,000 residents to evacuate.
Two major fires in the provinces of Izmir and Manisa were close to containment, according to Turkey's Forestry Minister.
However, crews were reportedly struggling with a large, wind-driven fire still sweeping through the southern province of Hatay.
In the Czech Republic, temperatures are expected to reach 37C by Wednesday for swathes of the country, including the capital.
Prague zoo had to turn to extreme measures to keep their animals cool, in the form of 10 tonnes of ice distributed across the park.
Twin polar bear brothers Aleut and Gregor looked pleased when they found parts of their enclosure covered with a thick layer of ice on Tuesday morning, rolling around in it happily.
