Europe heatwave – live: Holidaymakers evacuated in Greece wildfires as extreme heat set to last until August

Holidaymakers have been evacuated from at least six seaside communities in Greece as their homes are threatened by wildfires amid the extreme heat hitting Europe that will likely last until August.

Gusts of wind up to 45 mph are pushing flames through hillside scrub and pine forests parched by extreme heat near Athens, leading authorities to issue the evacuation orders on Monday.

Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization warned that the heatwave affecting the Mediterranean is forecast to intensify by mid-week, including in Greece, and is likely to continue into August in some places.

New records have already been set for specific weather stations in parts of the northern hemisphere and new national records may also be set, the UN agency's website said.

Another anticyclone dubbed “Charon”, who in Greek mythology was the ferryman of the dead, advanced into the region from north Africa on Sunday and could lift temperatures well above 45C in parts of Italy, Spain and Greece.

The hottest temperature recorded in Europe was 48.8C in Sicily, in August 2021.

It comes as extreme temperatures are breaking records worldwide as both the US and China saw the mercury crossing 50C on Sunday.

Key Points

• Wildfires threaten seaside homes outside Greek capital after heatwave

• Heatwave ‘likely to continue into August’, says UN

• New heat storm 'Charon' stretches into southern Europe

• 16 red alerts issued for Italy

• La Palma residents ‘refusing to leave homes’ as thousands evacuated

• Over 50C temperatures recorded in China and US

Heatwave ‘likely to continue into August’, says UN

15:57 , Tara Cobham

The heatwave affecting the Mediterranean is forecast to intensify by mid-week and is likely to continue into August in some places, said the World Meteorological Organization said on Monday.

New records have already been set for specific weather stations in parts of the northern hemisphere and new national records may also be set, the UN agency's website said.

"The heat is forecast to intensify by the middle of the week (19 July) in parts of the Mediterranean, including Greece and Turkey," it said. "A further continuation into August is likely."

Wildfires threaten seaside homes outside Greek capital after heatwave

15:16 , Tara Cobham

Greek authorities issued evacuation orders for at least six seaside communities Monday as wildfires threatened vacation homes near Athens, with gusts of wind up to 70 kph (45 mph) pushing flames through hillside scrub and pine forests parched by extreme heat.

Water-dropping planes and helicopters tackled the flames near Lagonisi, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of the capital, in an area with thousands of seaside vacation homes.

The fire service reported a second large wildfire in a wooded area near the resort town of Loutraki, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) west of Athens, where a children's summer camp and rehabilitation center for seniors were evacuated, local officials said.

Greater Athens and much of southern Greece were on the second-highest alert for wildfires Monday and Tuesday following a four-day heat wave that eased over the weekend. More heatwave temperatures are expected later in the week.

Residents and visitors in areas affected by the two fires received cell phone alerts from the Civil Protection Ministry. Loutraki Mayor Giorgos Gionis said municipal workers were assisting seniors in the evacuations, adding that the operation has been impeded by cell phone reception outages.

The flames reached the edges of settlements in Loutraki and Lagonisi, causing damage to some homes, but the fire service did not have an initial official assessment of the damage.

Expert concerned about pregnant women, babies, children and elderly in heat

14:30 , Tara Cobham

An expert has expressed her concerns about the impact of heat on pregnant women, young babies and children, as well as the elderly.

Dr Chloe Brimicombe, Climate Scientist and Extreme Heat Researcher, University of Graz, said: “Heat does not just cause excess death amongst the elderly. I’m most worried about the impact of heat on pregnant women, young babies and children. We see a rise in preterm birth as an outcome of pregnancy with exposure to extreme heat. And a rise in hospital admissions amongst all of these groups.”

‘Humanity will have to adapt to even more severe heatwaves in future,' says expert

14:01 , Tara Cobham

A scientist has warned that “humanity will have to adapt to even more severe heatwaves in the future” as he reacts to the extreme weather conditions seen across the world.

Prof Simon Lewis, Chair of Global Change Science, University College London, said: “This is just the beginning. This is what the climate system can do at just 1.2 degrees C warming. Current policies globally have us hitting 2.7 degrees C warming by 2100. That's truly terrifying.

“As scientists agreed last year: There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all. Deep, rapid and sustained cuts in carbon emissions to net zero can halt the warming, but humanity will have to adapt to even more severe heatwaves in the future.”

‘Heat hell is worldwide,’ climate expert warns

13:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Commenting on the extreme heat conditions being experienced in Southern Europe, as well as other parts of the world including the US and China, Gareth Redmond-King, Head of International Programme at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: “Heatwaves in Europe have been given names from the underworld, but the heat hell is worldwide at the moment. These extremes are dangerous; last year’s record heat claimed almost 3,500 lives in the UK alone.

“But we live in a globalised world. Even as Britain experiences a gloomy and relatively cool July, the extreme heat and droughts, torrential rains and flooding around the world have a direct hit for us too.

“We import half our food - half of that comes from climate vulnerable countries. As harvests are hit by climate disasters, supplies are constrained and prices rise.

“If we don’t halt heating at 1.5°C by getting to net zero, and support the nations that supply our food to adapt to these extremes, then we’ll pay the price at the supermarket, in empty shelves and higher prices.”

How to keep your house cool in a heatwave

12:51 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Earth’s average temperature set a new unofficial record high for the third time in a week recently as temperatures across the globe continue to soar.

According to chief meteorologist Paul Davies, who spoke to Sky News amid a recent heatwave, the high temperatures are “entirely consistent” with climate change, and “could become a regular occurence by the end of the century”.

During extremely warm weather, it’s important to know how to keep your home cool, especially if you do not have air-conditioning.

From closing your windows during the day to building your own DIY AC, here is what you can do to lower the temperature in your home.

How to keep your house cool in warm weather

Mapped: Temperatures set to soar in Europe due to Charon heatwave

12:15 , Tara Cobham

Southern Europe is bracing for scorching temperatures this week as a new anticyclone entered the region, adding to the deadly heatwave that began last week.

The new weather system, named Charon after the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology, moved over the region on Sunday after days of sweltering heat under another high pressure weather system dubbed Cerberus.

Charon, which like Cerberus has moved northwards from north Africa, is expected to drive temperatures in Italy’s Sardinia as high as 48C, a mark that could see it approach or even break Sicily’s 48.8C record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe.

Stuti Mishra reports:

Mapped: Temperatures set to soar in Italy, Spain and Greece due to Charon heatwave

Why the heat is an issue

11:50 , Tara Cobham

The hot weather has caused health issues, leading to a strain on local medical services during a busy tourist period.

Fifteen cities in Italy, most of them in the country’s centre and south, were under heat advisories due to a high level of risk for older adults, children and other vulnerable people.

Last week, a 44-year-old man, who was painting a zebra crossing in 40C heat in the northern town of Lodi, lost consciousness and later died in hospital, local media reported.

More than 2,000 people have been evacuated as a wildfire raged on La Palma in the Canary Islands, while authorities in Greece opened air-conditioned areas in public buildings.

Watch: Huge wildfire rages on La Palma forcing thousands to evacuate

11:00 , Tara Cobham

Forget Cerberus – these heatwaves will soon be Britain’s new normal

10:40 , Tara Cobham

Europe braces for temperatures touching 49C. Fires rage in the forests of Spain. More than a dozen cities across Italy are put on red heat alert. The Acropolis is closed to tourists as holidaymakers buckle in the midday sun.

The current Cerberus heatwave in Southern Europe, we have been told, could well lead to “potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe”, while we have also been told that the first week of July was the hottest week ever recorded worldwide.

This year has also seen the hottest June on record in the UK, with an average temperature of 15.8C during the month. And, just last year, the temperature in the UK crossed 40C for the first time ever.

But this is not an anomaly; it is becoming routine. Every year, summer comes around, and meteorologists tell us that we have just experienced the hottest day, week or month on record.

Nick Ferris reports:

Forget Cerberus – these heatwaves will soon be Britain’s new normal

Will it get hotter in Europe

10:19 , Tara Cobham

Forecasters say in the coming days parts of Italy and Greece could push the 48.8C recorded in Syracuse, Sicily in August 2021, the highest temperature ever recorded in Europe.

The hot weather is set to continue for at least another week, especially in Greece and parts of Turkey.

It will ease slightly in countries across western Europe, such as Spain and Portugal in the next few days, the Met Office said.

Italy shuts main Sicily airport until Wednesday due to fire

10:00 , Tara Cobham

The airport in the Sicilian city of Catania, close to some of the main tourist hot spots in eastern Sicily, has been shut down until Wednesday due to a fire, its management company wrote on Twitter.

The fire broke out late on Sunday and there were no injuries, the airport said. Firefighters said they managed to contain the blaze about 90 minutes after it was called in, but provided no details on possible causes or any link to current high temperatures in the region.

Catania was among several Italian cities that imposed a hot weather red alert on Sunday, along with the Sicilian capital of Palermo and the third island's largest city of Messina, as the country braced for record high temperatures in the coming days.

Flights at the Sicilian airport, which according to the Assoaeroporti sector group, ranked fifth for traffic in Italy last year and first on the island, have been suspended until 1200 GMT on Wednesday, the company said.

Ansa news agency reported dense smoke in the lower part of the facility after the fire broke out, sending people rushing out of the airport shouting and in distress.

The Catania airport is regularly used by tourists heading to places like Mount Etna and Taormina, which is about 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) away, and Siracusa, with its Greek Theatre and the historical centre on the Ortigia island.

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Charon?

09:38 , Tara Cobham

A deadly heatwave sweeping across Europe with temperatures forecast to shatter records in the coming days stands in complete contrast to the weather faced by the United Kingdom that has had wet and windy conditions continuing this week.

As the UK gets prolonged showers – the Met Office predicts unsettled conditions to continue for the next few days – the Mediterranean region grapples with soaring heat that could touch a new European record as soon as this week.

Stuti Mishra reports:

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Charon?

British holidaymakers reportedly changing plans for fear of heatwave

09:20 , Tara Cobham

Some British holidaymakers are changing their plans for fear of the European heatwave, it has been reported.

Justine Rush, 53, who is in Corfu, told the Observer: “It’s properly hot – too hot to go outside in the day, except when you’re in the sea. We’ve had to stay in our room most of the day.”

Paola Deitan, 29, from Marlborough, Wiltshire, was planning to travel with her best friend to Greece, but has now opted for Barcelona, the newspaper said.

People can change their holiday plans, but normal conditions apply, including cancellation fees.

In pictures: Heatwave in Europe

09:00 , Tara Cobham

Extreme heatwave in US while flooding killed at least five

08:27 , Tara Cobham

An extreme heatwave peaked in the western United States on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 128 Fahrenheit (53 Celsius) in the California desert, while flash flooding continued to menace the Northeast, killing at least five people.

Nearly a quarter of the US population fell under extreme heat advisories, partly due to a stubborn heat dome that has been parked over western states. While baking parts of the country, the heat dome has also helped generate heavy rains in the Northeast, a pattern expected to continue for days if not weeks, according to the National Weather Service.

In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia, downpours and flash flooding over the weekend killed at least five people. Nearly 7 inches (17 cm) of rain fell on the area in 45 minutes late Saturday, Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer told a press conference, claiming five lives as vehicles were swept away. Two children, one aged 2 and the other 9 months, remained missing.

"We continue to look for the two children," Brewer said. "We are not going to give up regardless. The weather is a factor but at this point we are going to continue the operations and have already set things in motion for tomorrow as well."

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday urged residents in her state to avoid travel until the rain passes, saying that "your car can go from a place of safety to a place of death" if swept up in a flash flood.

The rains were expected to ease on Monday but nonetheless created havoc throughout much of the Northeast in recent days, with Vermont in particular reporting catastrophic flooding in its capital Montpelier.

South East Water says it lost £17 million in year due to extreme weather

07:49 , Tara Cobham

South East Water said it had lost around £17 million in the year to the end of March due to extreme weather.

The business said the cost of the exceptional conditions had come from directly responding by sourcing new water, paying compensation to customers and repairing leaks caused by last year’s heatwave and other similar events.

It helped push the company into a pre-tax loss of £74.2 million, down from a profit of £17 million a year earlier. Revenue was up 2.5% to £257.5 million.

South East Water supplies about 2.2 million homes in Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire.

China logs 52.2 Celsius as extreme weather rewrites records

07:40 , Tara Cobham

A remote township in China's arid northwest endured temperatures of more than 52 Celsius (126 Fahrenheit) on Sunday, state media reported, setting a record for a country that was battling minus 50C weather just six months ago.

Temperatures at Sanbao township in Xinjiang's Turpan Depression soared as high as 52.2C on Sunday, state-run Xinjiang Daily reported on Monday, with the record heat expected to persist at least another five days.

The Sunday temperature broke a previous record of 50.3C, measured in 2015 near Ayding in the depression, a vast basin of sand dunes and dried-up lakes more than 150 m (492 ft) below sea level.

Since April, countries across Asia have been hit by several rounds of record-breaking heat, stoking concerns about their ability to adapt to a rapidly changing climate. The target of keeping long-term global warming within 1.5C is moving out of reach, climate experts say.

Prolonged bouts of high temperatures in China have challenged power grids and crops, and concerns are mounting of a possible repeat of last year's drought, the most severe in 60 years.

China is no stranger to dramatic swings in temperatures across the seasons but the swings are getting wider.

Heat Index at Persian Gulf Airport recorded at 66C

07:30 , Stuti Mishra

The heat index at the Persian Gulf International Airport reached 66 degrees Celsius or 152 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, according to data from the US National Weather Service.

The heat index is different from the air temperature, which stood at 40C at the location.

It refers to a measure of what temperature feels like to the human body, combining humidity with ambient air temperature.

New heat storm 'Charon' stretches into southern Europe

07:02 , Stuti Mishra

Europe’s record for the hottest temperature ever recorded could be broken this week, with Italy issuing new hot weather red alerts for 16 cities as another heat dome heads towards the Mediterranean region.

A new anticyclone dubbed “Charon”, who in Greek mythology was the ferryman of the dead, advanced into the region from north Africa on Sunday and could lift temperatures well above 45C in parts of Italy.

“We need to prepare for a severe heat storm that, day after day, will blanket the whole country,” Italian weather news service said.

“In some places ancient heat records will be broken.”The hottest temperature recorded in Europe was 48.8C in Sicily, in August 2021.

California's Death Valley on track to beat its own record for highest temperature on Earth

06:30 , Stuti Mishra

California's Death Valley has recorded a temperature of 53 degrees Celsius on Sunday amid sweltering global temperatures that are baking parts of Asia and Europe as well.

The Furnace Creek area in Death Valley, which runs along part of central California's border with Nevada and has long been considered the hottest place on Earth, recorded 53.33C, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

Meteorologists are raising concerns that amid extreme temperatures worldwide, Furnace Creek can see the mercury rising up to 55C or above.

The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 56.67C in July 1913 at Furnace Creek. However, there are some disputes over this reading.

Temperatures at or above 54.4C have only been recorded on Earth a handful of times, mostly in Death Valley.

Japan issues heatstroke alerts for tens of millions of people

05:51 , Stuti Mishra

Amid sweltering heat in parts of Asia, Japan has issued heatstroke alerts on Sunday to tens of millions of people warning that the heat was at life-threatening levels.

Japan saw temperatures soaring to nearly 40C in some places, including the capital Tokyo.

The government issued heatstroke alerts for 20 of the country’s 47 prefectures, mainly in the east and southwest, affecting tens of millions of people.

While record-high temperatures were scorching swathes of the country, torrential rain pummelled other regions.

Over 50C temperatures recorded in China and US

05:23 , Stuti Mishra

As southern Europe is grappling with record-breaking heat, the US and several countries in Asia are also experiencing record-breaking temperatures.

China's Sanbao city recorded an extreme temperature of 52C on Sunday while in the US Death Valley, known for being the world's hottest place, recorded 51C.

Some parts of Europe are on track to challenge these figures later this week, forecasters have warned.

California fires result in almost 1000 homes evacuated

03:00 , Holly Hales

Hundreds of firefighters are attempting to fight agressive wildfires southeast of Los Angeles.

Nearly 1,000 homes have been evacuated in the chaos but there are no reports of injuries on Sunday.

The fires are all within roughly 40 miles of one another in Riverside County,

One alone is believed to have overtaken 7,600 acres.

The local fire department said all fires remain under investigation.

Firefighter killed battling wildfire in Canada's Northwest Territories

01:30 , Holly Hales

A firefighter has died from an injury sustained while battling a wildfire in Canada’s Northwest Territories, becoming the second killed in recent days as blazes continue to burn in parts of the country, authorities said on Sunday.

With about 10 million hectares already burned across the country, Canada is on track for its worst wildfire season on record, with blazes also raging in large swathes of eastern Canada.

The firefighter, who died on Saturday, was from the town of Fort Liard, the Northwestern Territories government said. It did not provide the firefighter’s name. Another firefighter died on Thursday in British Columbia in a separate wildfire.

Monday 17 July 2023 00:30 , Holly Hales

Heavy rains pounded an already saturated northeastern United States on Sunday spurring another round of flash flooding, cancelled airline flights and power outages.

In Pennsylvania, a sudden flash flood late on Saturday afternoon claimed at least five lives.Officials in Bucks County’s Upper Makefield Township in Pennsylvania said torrential rains occurred around 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Washington Crossing area, sweeping away several cars.

At least five people died and two childen, a nine-month-old boy and his two-year-old sister, remained missing, authorities said.

Other parts of the East Coast were experiencing heavy rain, including Vermont. Authorities there said landslides could become a problem Sunday as the state copes with more rain following days of flooding.“There are flash flood warnings throughout the state today. Remain vigilant and be prepared,” Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said.Sunday’s strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, according to the tracking service FlightAware.

More than 350 flights were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey alone, while more than 280 flights were canceled at Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Hundreds of flights were delayed.The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and tornado watches for parts of Connecticut, western Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. A tornado warning was issued for an area along the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.Thousands of power outages also were reported.New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged people to stay home Sunday until the storms passed.“Here comes the rain. It just seems unrelenting this year,” she said. “You have to avoid unnecessary travel. ... A flash flood doesn’t give you warning ... and in those moments your car can go from a place of safety to a place of death.”Hochul said 13 centimeters of rain fell within two hours in Suffolk County on Long Island.

The state saw $50 million in damages from last week’s storms. Disaster declarations will cover more than a dozen New York counties.

Heavy precipitation was not the only extreme weather plaguing the U.S. A scorching heat wave across the Southwest has put roughly one-third of Americans under some type of heat watch or warning.

That included brutal temperatures in the hottest place on Earth — Death Valley, which runs along part of central California’s border with Nevada. Las Vegas also faced the possibility of reaching an all-time record temperature Sunday.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency posted air quality alerts for several states stretching from Montana to Ohio on Sunday because of smoke blowing in from Canadian wildfires. Hochul, the New York governor, said she expected air quality alerts to be issued for northern and western parts of New York state Monday because of the wildfires.“Air Quality alerts are in place for much of the Great Lakes, Midwest, and northern High Plains,” the National Weather Service said. “This is due to the lingering thick concentration of Canadian wildfire smoke over these regions.”

UK’s weather revealed as showers continue

Sunday 16 July 2023 23:30 , Holly Hales

British sun lovers can get slightly excited for a week of some sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures.

The next seven days will bring both showers and warmer temperatures, according to the Met Office.

The mercury is expected to remain in the low 20Cs with London’s temperature to stay between 20C and 24C through the week.

However, full blown hot weather isn’t expected to return until mid-August, according to Met Office meterologist Simon Partridge.

“It’s fairly disappointing for the middle of July, nothing particularly warm or sunny,” he told The Mirror.

“At the moment, the main signal on our long-range models is there is a signal for things turning drier and warmer but not until mid-August.”

Mr Partridge said those in certain parts of the country should expect rain on the way.

“The day with the most significant weather is Tuesday, we have an area of low pressure that moves across the UK which will bring some quite heavy rain at times, particularly across central and northern parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with north and south of that a reasonably dry day,” he said.

Death Valley nears hottest ever heat record

Sunday 16 July 2023 22:25 , Holly Hales

The US’s Death Valley is in the midst of a summer heatwave that could break its extreme temperature records, meteorologists said.Temperatures in Death Valley, which runs along part of central California’s border with Nevada, were forecast to reach 53.33C on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, the National Weather Service said.The hottest temperature ever record was 56.67C in July 1913 at Furnace Creek, said Randy Ceverny of the World Meteorological Organization, the body recognized as keeper of world records.

Temperatures at or above 54.44C have only been recorded on Earth a handful of times, mostly in Death Valley.“With global warming, such temperatures are becoming more and more likely to occur,” Ceverny, the World Meteorological Organization’s records coordinator, said in an email.

“Long-term: Global warming is causing higher and more frequent temperature extremes. Short-term: This particular weekend is being driven by a very very strong upper level ridge of high pressure over the Western U.S.”On Sunday in Death Valley, meteorologists were tracking high clouds in the area that could keep temperatures in check.“The all-time record seems fairly safe today,” said Matt Woods, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Las Vegas office, which monitors Death Valley.

The two hottest temperatures on record are the 134 in 1913 in Death Valley and 55C in Tunisia in July 1931.

UK’s chance of summer heatwave plummets

Sunday 16 July 2023 22:05 , Holly Hales

The chance of a late summer heatwave in the UK has plummeted, accoridng to the Met Office.

It comes as Europe swelters with temperatures hitting 50 degrees.

High pressure is likely to build at times next month which will raise temperatures slightly but they are expected to remain below average.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “There is no forecast signal for temperatures to reach last year’s threshold this year.

“The chance of reaching 40C is around one per cent, so it is unlikely in any given year, but of course, it remains feasible.”

Three dead and four missing after flash flooding in US

Sunday 16 July 2023 16:54 , Andy Gregory

While roughly one third of Americans were subject to extreme heat warnings on Saturday, with blistering weather forecast to intensify in Nevada, Arizona and California, the devastating impacts of flash floods have been felt in Pennsylvania.

Three people were killed and four others, including a nine-month-old baby, are missing after a flash flood swamped a road in the northeastern US state.

Authorities say that the flooding took place at around 5.30pm on Saturday evening when torrential rain hit the Washington Crossing area of Makefield Township. The area in Bucks County was hit by up to seven inches of rain in just 45 minutes, Fire Chief Tim Brewer told reporters.

My colleague Graeme Massie reports from Los Angeles:

Three dead and four missing after flash flooding hits Pennsylvania road

UK sees rain as Met Office issues thunderstorm warning

Sunday 16 July 2023 16:22 , Andy Gregory

While much of Europe bakes in scorching temperatures, the UK is experiencing somewhat different conditions, with the Met Office having issued a thunderstorm warning in northeast Scotland, where it says some flooding and other disruption is possible.

The national forecaster has also warned of “unseasonably strong winds” this weekend.

Footage shows La Palma wildfire devastation

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:55 , Andy Gregory

Footage captured by a helicopter belonging to Spain’s civil guard has offered an aerial view of some of the vast area impacted by wildfires.

Is it safe to travel in Europe?

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:20 , PA

Flights and holiday packages are continuing as normal, according to trade association ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents), reports Ted Hennessey.

Britons have been advised to stay hydrated, apply sun cream and avoid being in the sun at midday while on holiday.

Forecaster Simon Partridge said: “It’s a massive shock to the system when you’re there, so give yourself a chance to get used to the heat.”

The Foreign Office recommended people check travel advice on its website.

Outlook improving for La Palma wildfire, minister says

Sunday 16 July 2023 14:35 , Andy Gregory

More favourable weather conditions have helped firefighters slow the advance of the wildfire on La Palma which has forced the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents, Spanish authorities have said.

The blaze has affected some 460 square kilometres and burned around 20 houses and buildings, according to officials, who have urged people not to go near the area in the northwest of the island.

Tourism minister Héctor Gómez told reporters that, thanks to the efforts to combat the blaze overnight, the outlook for bringing it under control had improved.

More than 300 firefighters have been deployed and nine water-carrying helicopters and two planes are being used to try to extinguish the fire. A further 86 members of the army’s Military Emergency Unit were flown to the island on Sunday.

Spain fire risk in maps

Sunday 16 July 2023 14:07 , Andy Gregory

Spain’s civil protection agency has this map showing the wildfire risk across the country, via the national weather service AEMET. The risk level is deemed “extreme” in areas marked in red, and “very high” in those coloured orange.

Here is the picture on the Canary Islands, where fires are already burning on La Palma:

‘Going to the Colosseum is not advisable’: Italian health minister urges public to take care in heat

Sunday 16 July 2023 13:36 , Andy Gregory

Authorities are keeping a close eye on temperatures in Rome, Italy’s health minister Orazio Schillaci has said, as he urged the public to look after themselves.

“Going to the Colosseum when it is 43C is not advisable, especially for an elderly person,” he told Il Messaggero newspaper on Sunday, saying people should stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 6pm.

Besides the Italian capital, health alerts were in place from the central city of Florence to Palermo in Sicily and Bari, in the southeast of the peninsula.

British holidaygoers cancel travel plans over extreme heat

Sunday 16 July 2023 13:07 , Andy Gregory

Some British holidaygoers have resorted to cancelling their travel plans in the face of the extreme heat currently scorching parts of Europe.

Paola Deitan, a 29-year-old from Marlborough told The Observer she had decided to head to milder Barcelona after cancelling plans to travel with her best friend to Greece, saying: “Obviously, I am worried about my health. I don’t want anything to happen to me while on holiday.”

Justine Rush, a 53-year-old in Corfu with her husband and teenage children told the paper. “I was expecting it to be hot, maybe 31, but it’s more like 37. It’s properly hot – too hot to go outside in the day, except when you’re in the sea. We’ve had to stay in our room most of the day.

“I don’t normally like to be on the beach all day, but we can’t do anything else. We’ve had to cancel plans to go on a day trip to a nearby town. Luckily we managed to not lose any money.”

An unnamed 61-year-old woman from London on a Mediterranean cruise also told the outlet that that she planned to remain on the boat instead of going on pre-booked excursions “because it will be too hot to do anything really”, adding that she may make future European holiday plans at Easter rather than summer.

‘Ancient’ heat records to be broken, forecasters warn as Charon arrives in Europe

Sunday 16 July 2023 12:29 , Andy Gregory

“Ancient heat records” will be broken in the coming days, forecasters in Italy have warned, as a new anticyclone named after the Greek ferryman of the dead, Charon, pushed into Europe from north Africa on Sunday.

Charon is expected to potentially lift temperatures above 45C in parts of Italy early next week, with red alerts for extreme heat already issued in 16 cities on Sunday, as meteorologists warned of record high temperatures across southern Europe in the days ahead.

“We need to prepare for a severe heat storm that, day after day, will blanket the whole country,” Italian weather news service Meteo.it warned on Sunday. “In some places ancient heat records will be broken.”

Israeli PM discharged from hospital after ‘not protecting himself’ during 40C heat

Sunday 16 July 2023 11:59 , Andy Gregory

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been discharged after an overnight hospital stay for check-ups and monitoring following a dizzy spell doctors said was caused by dehydration.

Mr Netanyahu’s office said he had spent the previous day at the Sea of Galilee, a popular holiday spot in northern Israel where temperatures climbed to about 40C amid a stifling country-wide heat wave.

After a series of tests, the initial assessment was that the veteran Israeli leader was dehydrated, and Mr Netanyahu released a video on social media on Saturday night.

Smiling, he said that he had been out in the sun on Friday without wearing a hat and without water. “Not a good idea,” he said.

Doctors ordered him to remain in the hospital overnight for further observation, and his weekly cabinet meeting was delayed by a day and rescheduled for Monday, his office said.

La Palma residents ‘refusing to leave homes’ as thousands evacuated

Sunday 16 July 2023 10:57 , Andy Gregory

Some local residents are refusing to leave their homes in the face of wildfires which have seen at least 4,000 people evacuated, the president of the Canary Islands has said.

The out-of-control fire in La Palma started in the early hours of Saturday in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area in the north of the island in the Canaries. The blaze forced the evacuation of people from the villages of Puntagorda and neighbouring Tijarafe.

Ten aerial units and 300 firefighters on the ground sought to bring the wildfire under control, and president Fernando Clavijo said that at least 13 houses were destroyed as the fire advanced.

“There has been some resistance by local people to leaving their homes, but I appeal to people to be responsible,” Mr Clavijo told reporters in La Palma.

In Tenerife, another of the eight Canary Islands, a forest fire, which broke out on Saturday, forced the evacuation of 50 people and destroyed about 60 hectares, authorities said.

King Felipe VI of Spain telephoned Mr Clavijo on Saturday to express his support with the people of La Palma, the Spanish royal household said.

ICYMI: Land temperatures in Spain surpass 60C as deadly heatwave sweeps Europe

Sunday 16 July 2023 10:21 , Andy Gregory

The temperature of the ground in some areas of Spain has hit more than 60C during the deadly heatwave sweeping Europe, satellite recordings have shown.

It was so hot that a heat map that highlights scorching temperatures in red turned even darker – to black.

Temperature records have been broken on most of the continent, including France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, where highs of 40C were recorded again on Wednesday.

My colleague Jane Dalton has more in this report:

Land temperatures in Spain surpass record 60C in deadly heatwave

Venetian tourists use umbrellas to shelter from sun

Sunday 16 July 2023 10:01 , Andy Gregory

Tourists in Venice have been filmed using umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, as some 16 red alerts for heat are issued in Italy, including in Rome, Florence and Bologna.

One third of Americans subject to extreme heat warnings

Sunday 16 July 2023 09:32 , Andy Gregory

Around a third of Americans were subject to warnings for extreme heat on Saturday, as the blistering weather was forecast to intensify this weekend in Nevada, Arizona and California.

Temperatures in some desert areas were predicted to soar past 48.8C during the day, and remain above 32.2C overnight.

Around 200 hydration stations distributing bottles of water and cooling centres where potentially thousands of people can rest in air-conditioned spaces opened on Saturday in public spaces like libraries, churches and businesses around the Phoenix area.

David Hondula, chief heat officer for the City of Phoenix, said that because of the health risks some centres were extending their hours, warning: “This weekend there will be some of the most serious and hot conditions we’ve ever seen.”

South Korean rains death toll rises to 35

Sunday 16 July 2023 08:47 , Andy Gregory

In news of extreme weather elsewhere, the death toll from the heavy rain which has caused flooding and landslides in South Korea has hit 35 – as the bodies of eight more people trapped in a submerged tunnel were retrieved on Sunday.

The chief of the west Cheongju fire station said some 15 vehicles, including a bus, were estimated to have been submerged in the underpass in the city shortly after a levee of a nearby river was destroyed by the downpours on Saturday.

“We are focusing on the search operation as there’s likely more people there,” they told reporters. “We are doing our best to wrap it up today.”

The latest disaster is taking place despite South Korea’s vow to step up preparedness against torrential rains after Seoul was hit last year with floods caused by the heaviest downpours in 115 years. While the nation often experiences heavy rains in summer, it has witnessed a sharp increase in recent years.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said the central and southern parts of the country could receive as much as 300mm of additional rain by Tuesday.

Thousands evacuated as firefighters struggle to contain wildfire in Canary Islands

Sunday 16 July 2023 07:43 , Matt Mathers

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as firefighters struggle to contain a wildfire tearing through the Spanish Canary Islands.

The fire began in La Palma early on Saturday and has already destroyed 4,500 hectares (11,100 acres) of land and at least a dozen homes.

Officials said around 400 troops from various agencies remain on the ground tackling the blaze.

Authorities said some 4,255 people had been evacuated but that others were declining to leave.

Should I keep my windows closed or open during a heatwave?

Sunday 16 July 2023 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

With the summer heat upon us, it means that our homes may become uncomfortably hot, especially at night.

As it gets hotter, it can be tempting to open your windows to let in some fresh air when the weather gets too warm – but should you keep them shut instead?

According to NHS advice, curtains should be kept shut to keep sun-facing rooms as shaded as possible.

Laura Hampson reports.

Should I keep my windows closed or open during a heatwave?

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters

Sunday 16 July 2023 07:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A deadly heatwave sweeping across Europe with temperatures forecast to shatter records in the coming days stands in complete contrast to the weather faced by the United Kingdom that has had wet and windy conditions continuing this week.

As the UK gets prolonged showers – the Met Office predicts unsettled conditions to continue for the next few days – the Mediterranean region grapples with soaring heat that could touch a new European record as soon as this week.

Stuti Mishra has more.

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

Acropolis midday closure leaves many tourists in the lurch

Sunday 16 July 2023 06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Disgruntled tourists bemoaned the temporary closing of the Acropolis in Athens as Greek authorities proactively shut the world monument’s gates between midday and early evening.

Red Cross staff handed out bottled water to tourists wilting in long lines hoping to beat the closure and scale the steps up to the gleaming Parthenon temple as temperatures were expected to peak above 40C.

Some visitors were frustrated at being left in the lurch because they were unaware of Greek authorities’ last-minute announcement of the Acropolis’ closure. One visitor said he was disappointed as his cruise ship would depart later in the day.

“I even bought a €50 ticket to skip the line to enter and I couldn’t enter the place,” Hector from Mexico told The Associated Press.

Southern Europe to continue to reel under heatwave next week

Sunday 16 July 2023 05:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Southern Europe will suffer from an intense bout of heatwave next week as well, as Italy, Spain and Greece continue to experience high temperatures.

“Temperatures will reach a peak between 19 and 23 July - not only in Italy but also in Greece, Turkey and the Balkans,” Italian meteorologist and climate expert Giulio Betti told the BBC.

“Several local heat records within these areas may well be broken during those days.”

The Italian government has issued red alerts in 16 cities and advised anyone in the areas to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 6pm.

Food production concerns as drought hits half of EU

Sunday 16 July 2023 04:52 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Nearly half of EU is suffering from a “severe” drought, the bloc’s official body has warned amid an ongoing heatwave that is predicted to push temperatures in Italy to 49C.

According to the European Drought Observatory (EDO), at least 42 per cent of land across the 27 member countries are under amber warning, which means the ground has dried due to lack of rain.

A new drought is building up around the Baltic Sea, Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, and Germany, causing concerns about crop production, it said.

The agency only classifies Devon, Cornwall and parts of East Anglia in drought for the UK.

About 4 per cent of EU land is on red alert for drought, where crops and plants are suffering.

ICYMI: Death Valley may be about to record the world’s highest ever temperature

Sunday 16 July 2023 01:30 , Nick Ferris

Over in the US, a third of the population was under heat alerts on Friday as the merciless conditions continued to topple hundreds of temperature records from coast to coast.

In the west, Death Valley National Park could set a new world record for the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded while in Arizona, emergency responders were treating people for second-degree contact burns caused by sidewalks which have surpassed 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71C).

The intensifying heatwave across the southern US was mirrored around the world as millions of people in Europe, Asia and Africa contended with extreme, record-breaking temperatures driven by the climate crisis.

Click below for full story:

Sidewalks causing contact burns in Arizona as merciless heat impacts one-third of US

Showers in the UK set to continue for days to come

Sunday 16 July 2023 01:00 , Nick Ferris

The Met Office has predicted that unsettled weather conditions are to continue in the UK for the next few days – as the Mediterranean region grapples with soaring heat that could touch a new European record as soon as this week.

Dr Melissa Lazenby, a climate change lecturer at the University of Sussex, explained earlier that the current placement of a high-pressure system located further south is the primary reason for this divergence.

“The current European Heatwave is being driven by stable atmospheric conditions from a stationary high pressures feature,” Dr Lazenby explained.

She added that while it is not possible to determine all the drivers and their exact contributions to the current heatwave yet, Europe is not “particularly affected by El Niño events directly”.

“Therefore it is likely the high-pressure system and climate change are the main contributors to this heatwave event,” she said.

“The UK at the moment is not experiencing the same high temperatures as the rest of Europe and that is mainly due to the placement of the current high-pressure system, which does not cover the UK and is situated further south,” Dr Lazenby said, “which provides stable atmospheric conditions for enhanced warming and resulting heatwaves”.

“If you are in the UK today, you will notice the higher winds which are not associated with a high-pressure feature and therefore not allowing conducive heatwave conditions explaining why UK temperatures are not anomalously warm like the rest of Europe.”

ICYMI: How climate change to blame for Europe’s heatwave

Sunday 16 July 2023 00:30 , Nick Ferris

Climate change is most likely the cause of a blistering heatwave gripping Europe, a meteorologist has said,

Chris England, a Sky News meteorologist, told the network: “Both southern Europe and the southern USA are experiencing extreme and potentially record-breaking heat at the moment.

“The immediate causes in both cases are long-lasting and fairly stationary high-pressure systems that are bringing hot air in and then heating it further through the actions of the sun and by compressing the air – a so-called heat-dome.

“Climate change would seem to be the most likely root cause of the excessive heat, although that will take time to verify.

“We are in an El Nino year, but that doesn’t seem advanced enough to bring significant global issues yet.”

La Palma wildfire “out of control”, says regional president

Saturday 15 July 2023 23:52 , Nick Ferris

A wildfire that has raged across 4,500 acres in the island of La Palma is “out of control”, Canary Islands regional president Fernando Clavijo said.

More than 2,000 people have been evacuated, and officials warned residents the situation could worsen because a heatwave has made the terrain tinder-dry.

Clavijo said some residents did not want to abandon their homes and appealed for people to be responsible and heed the calls for evacuation.

He said that 10 aircraft were battling the fire and water-dropping planes are expected to arrive.

The wildfire and evacuations come nearly two years after a three-month volcanic eruption caused devastation on La Palma.

While nobody was killed, around 3,000 buildings were buried along with many banana plantations, roads and irrigation systems.

ICYMI: How to sleep during hot weather, according to experts

Saturday 15 July 2023 22:30 , Nick Ferris

The warmth of summer is usually welcomed with open arms, but we often forget how difficult it can be to get a decent night’s sleep when nighttime temperatures rise.

Nights can become even more uncomfortable during a heatwave, when temperatures meet or exceed the heatwave temperature threshold for at least three consecutive days, and are common in the summer.

Many may find these nights difficult, especially without a fan or air-conditioning.

According to Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, a sleep expert at Silentnight, the optimal bedroom temperature for sleeping is between 16C (60F) and 21C (69.8F), and your brain needs to be slightly cooler than the rest of your body.

Read more by clicking on the below link.

How to sleep during hot weather, according to experts

Temperatures in Turkey hit the mid-40s

Saturday 15 July 2023 22:00 , Nick Ferris

In Turkey, the tourism hot spot of Antalya saw tempratures hit 44 C, while coastal cities in the south and southwest reached the high 30s and low 40s.

In the northwestern cities of Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdag, 48 people were taken to emergency rooms with symptoms of heat stroke in the past two days, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The heat wave also was taking its toll on water levels in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.

The main water supply at the Omerli Dam reservoir, already at 41% capacity due to low rainfall, was losing 17,000 tons of water an hour during the early afternoon on saturday, Levent Kurnaz from the Bosphorus University told local media.

Temperatures hit 35C in Poland

Saturday 15 July 2023 21:30 , Nick Ferris

Authorities in Poland warned older adults in particular to stay indoors or in the shade and well-hydrated as temperatures reached 35C on saturday.

In downtown Warsaw, and in other cities, makeshift hose fountains were arranged to let people and their pets cool off.

Police issued warnings about not leaving children or pets unattended inside cars.

Poland’s highest ever temperature is 40.2C, recorded in 1921.

Benjamin Netanyahu tells people to drink more water, following hospital admission

Saturday 15 July 2023 20:44 , Nick Ferris

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed on people to drink water and act safely in the scorching summer, after he was rushed to hospital on Saturday.

The Prime Minister was seen by doctors for dehydration, after a day spent in the sun without a hat and without water.

Netanyahu, 73, is Israel’s longest serving leader. He has served multiple terms stretching over 15 years in office. His current far-right government, a collection of religious and ultranationalist parties, took office last December.

The US has also been hit by deadly heat

Saturday 15 July 2023 19:43 , Nick Ferris

Europe is not the only part of the world currently experiencing unusually high heat: Southern US states are also experiencing near-record temperatures.

“Near record temperatures are expected this weekend!” the National Weather Service in Phoenix, Arizona, warned in a tweet, advising people to drink plenty of water and to check on family members and neighbours.

In Las Vegas, emergency rooms have been treating more people for heat-related illnesses, reported the Associated Press, as the heat wave threatened to break the city’s all-time record high of 47.2C this weekend.

In New Mexico’s largest city of Albuquerque, many public pools were offering free admission.

In Boise, Idaho, churches and other nonprofit groups were offering water, sunscreen and shelter.

Greece under emergency measures as Italy braces for second heatwave

Saturday 15 July 2023 18:10 , Matt Mathers

The second “even stronger” part of the Cerberus heatwave, which has ravaged parts of Europe this week, is set to strike Italy in a few days time.

Sardinia and Sicily could see temperatures of 48C next week, which is approaching the continent’s record of 48.8C from 2019.

Wildfires are also tearing through Croatia, causing tourists and locals to flee the area of Grebastica, near Sibenik on the Dalmatian Coast. Propelled by strong winds, the forest fire has caused towns and homes to be evacuated as the blaze spreads.

Maryam Zakir-Hussian and William Mata report:

All of the Europe weather warnings: Italy braces for second heatwave as Greece melts

Floods, fires and deadly heatwaves are the alarm bells of a planet on the brink

Saturday 15 July 2023 17:10 , Matt Mathers

Our planet is careening into uncharted territory, while our governments continue to approve new multi-decade fossil fuel projects, writes Sarah Kaplan.

Read Sarah’s full piece here:

Floods, fires and deadly heat are the alarm bells of a planet on the brink

Heatwave across Spain and Italy leaves Brits abroad sweltering: ‘I don’t cope well at all’

Saturday 15 July 2023 16:10 , Matt Mathers

As temperatures top 40C, Britons are doing whatever they can to stay cool. Graham Keeley reports from Madrid on the extreme heat across Europe:

Heatwave across Europe leaves Brits abroad sweltering: ‘I don’t cope well at all’

Climate change to blame for suffocating heat - meteorologist

Saturday 15 July 2023 15:09 , Matt Mathers

Climate change is most likely the cause of a blistering heatwave gripping Europe, a meteorologist has said,

Chris England, a Sky News meteorologist, told the network: “Voth southern Europe and the southern USA are experiencing extreme and potentially record-breaking heat at the moment.

“The immediate causes in both cases are long-lasting and fairly stationary high-pressure systems that are bringing hot air in and then heating it further through the actions of the sun and by compressing the air – a so-called heat-dome.

“Climate change would seem to be the most likely root cause of the excessive heat, although that will take time to verify.

“We are in an El Nino year, but that doesn’t seem advanced enough to bring significant global issues yet.”

ICYMI: Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

Saturday 15 July 2023 14:32 , Matt Mathers

As temperatures soar across Europe, travel correspondent Simon Calder takes a look at whether it is safe to travel to holiday hot spots such as Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia.

With forecasters predicting the heatwave could last for up to two weeks, concerns are growing about the risks to health. As The Independent reported this week, 61,000 Europeans are believed to have died as a result of the extreme heat last summer.

For travellers contemplating their options, these are the key questions and answers:

Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia?

150 firefighters tackle La Palma blaze

Saturday 15 July 2023 13:50 , Matt Mathers

The regional president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, said Saturday that, in addition to forcing the removal of the residents, the blaze has destroyed at least 11 homes within the relatively small burned zone of 140 hectares (345 acres).

He warned that the number of evacuees could easily increase.

"With the resources that we are deploying, we hope we can control the fire today, but the winds are shifting," Clavijo said. "More gusting winds are expected and, combined with the dryness of the terrain and the lack of rain, this situation is complicated."

Spain’s army has deployed 150 of its firefighters to help local crews battle the blaze. More local firefighters are arriving on boats from the neighboring island of Tenerife, according to Clavijo.

ICYMI: Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

Saturday 15 July 2023 13:20 , Matt Mathers

A deadly heatwave sweeping across Europe with temperatures forecast to shatter records in the coming days stands in complete contrast to the weather faced by the United Kingdom that has had wet and windy conditions continuing this week.

As the UK gets prolonged showers – the Met Office predicts unsettled conditions to continue for the next few days – the Mediterranean region grapples with soaring heat that could touch a new European record as soon as this week.

Stuti Mishra reports:

Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus?

Greece ‘like Africa’ as Europeans melt in deadly heatwave forecast to smash record

Saturday 15 July 2023 13:00 , Matt Mathers

southern Europeans suffer through a heatwave forecast to only worsen in the coming days.

Europe’s highest ever recorded temperature – 48.8C (119.8F) – could be breached in Sicily and Sardinia next week and Spain is expected to reach 45C, experts say.

Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Poland and Croatia have all been hit, and officials in several countries have been preparing emergency measures, including mobile phone heat alerts.

Jane Dalton reports:

Greece ‘like Africa’ as Europe melts in deadly heatwave forecast to smash record

ICYMI: Acropolis’ midday closure leaves many tourists in the lurch as a heatwave lashes southern Europe

Saturday 15 July 2023 12:40 , Matt Mathers

Disgruntled tourists bemoaned the temporary closing of the Acropolis in Athens on Friday as Greek authorities proactively shut the world monument’s gates between midday and early evening amid a heat wave that continues to grip southern Europe.

Red Cross staff handed out bottled water to tourists wilting in long lines hoping to beat the closure and scale the steps up to the gleaming Parthenon temple as temperatures were expected to peak above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in the Greek capital.

Menelaos Hadjicostis and Lefteris Pitarakis report:

Acropolis’ midday closure leaves tourists in the lurch as a heatwave lashes Europe

Land temperatures in Spain surpass 60C as deadly heatwave sweeps Europe

Saturday 15 July 2023 12:18 , Matt Mathers

The temperature of the ground in some areas of Spain has hit more than 60C during the deadly heatwave sweeping Europe, satellite recordings have shown.

It was so hot that a heat map that highlights scorching temperatures in red turned even darker – to black.

Temperature records have been broken on most of the continent, including France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, where highs of 40C were recorded again on Wednesday.

Jane Dalton reports:

Land temperatures in Spain surpass record 60C in deadly heatwave

Forest fire in Spain’s La Palma island forces evacuations

Saturday 15 July 2023 11:47 , Matt Mathers

A forest fire in the Spanish island of La Palma has forced the evacuation of at least 500 people, authorities said on Saturday, in the first natural crisis on the island since a volcanic eruption on 2021.

The fire started in the early hours of Saturday morning in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area at the north of the island in the Canaries, as many European cities brace for extreme heat in the coming week.

At least 11 houses were destroyed as the fire advanced, Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands said on Saturday.

"The number of people who need to be evacuated could reach 1,000. It depends on whether we can bring these strong winds under control," Clavijo told reporters in La Palma.

About 140 hectares (346 acres) of land had been destroyed by the fire, he added.

Four helicopters and four firefighting units on the ground were battling to bring the fire under control in the island, which forms part of a Spanish archipelago off the coast of western Africa.

Authorities in the island were seeking help from other islands in the archipelago, such as Gomera and Tenerife.

Maps shows areas most affected by heatwave

Saturday 15 July 2023 11:15 , Matt Mathers

A map published by the European Space Agency shows the areas set to be worst affected by the Cerberus heatwave.

It displays the areas of Spain, Italy and other parts of Europe where temperatures are forecast 40C.

“Temperatures are sizzling across Europe this week amid an intense and prolonged period of heat,” the ESA said.

“And it’s only just begun. Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are all facing a major heatwave with air temperatures expected to climb to 48°C on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia – potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe.”

Weather warnings issued in the UK

Saturday 15 July 2023 10:57 , Matt Mathers

While temperatures soar across much of Europe, the weather is taking a turn in the UK with the Met Office issuing warnings for wind, rain and thunderstorms.

Forecasters say an Atlantic low-pressure will bring unseasonably strong winds, and heavy rain or showers to many place in the coming days.

National Severe Weather Warnings for wind, rainand thunderstorms have been issued highlighting the potential for impacts such as travel disruption to large swathes of southern and northern England, South Wales, parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland on Saturday.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said: “This is an unusual time of year for such strong winds and, with many people on holiday or planning outdoor activities, they are likely to cause some disruption.

“In addition, heavy rain and thunderstorms could lead to standing water and spray on roads and consequently difficult driving conditions. Winds are expected to ease through the evening.

“Temperatures are expected to stay near average or rather cool over the coming days especially in the rain and wind.”

52 forest fires recorded in Greece

Saturday 15 July 2023 10:30 , Matt Mathers

Some 52 forest fires were recorded in a 24-hour period in Greece, the country’s fire department said.

The blazes were recorded between 6pm on Thursday and 6pm Friday local time.

"Most [of the blazes] were tackled immediately, at their initial stage," a statement on the fire department’s website said.

Temperatures have soared across Greece as Cerberus continues to move across southern Europe.

Wildfires devastated swathes of the Greek countryside last year.