The searing European temperatures hit Italy with sixteen Italian cities including Florence, Rome and Bologna being issued red alerts after high pressure brings hot air over from Africa.
Un-officially named Cerberus after the mythological underworld guard, the heatwave has also affected regions of France. Spain and Greece have also experienced extreme conditions with the closure of the Acropolis following reports of tourists collapsing and the death of a Milan zebra crossing painter working in 40 degree weather.
The red alerts were authorised by the Italian government and advise civilians in the affected sixteen cities to avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 11am to 6pm.
They also advise taking particular care of the vulnerable and elderly, however, even healthy people are at risk from the heat.
This includes animals at Zoos with Rome Zoo giving their animals a frozen diet to fight the skyrocketing Italian heat.
Outside of the sixteen Italian cities, boat tour guide Alberico from Massa Lubrense says ‘There’s an incredible warmth and lots of humidity’
'In the gulf of Napoli and Salerno we cannot breathe’ He continues.
‘You could die from the warmth’.
Concerns about wildfires have arisen in Spain and Greece, for which the Greek Government have publicised contingency plans including a first-ever ban on people working in delivery and construction sectors during the hottest hours of the day.
Those in the public and private sectors in Athens have been encouraged to work remotely.
In Spain, wildfire affected areas have been requested by the Red Cross to shut windows and remain indoors.
Highs of 47 degrees are expected across Southern Spain, south-east Italy and Greece later this week with other parts of the world including parts of Japan and the US experiencing warmer weather.
England, however, is experiencing heavy rain and winds. This is due to the warm air fuelling heat into Europe also drawing low pressures into the UK.
In response to the temperatures, climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeted: ‘Week 256. We are currently shattering heat records all over the world. Last week we experienced the hottest days ever recorded, many days in a row. We are also experiencing record high sea level temperatures and record low ice levels. This is an emergency’.
Scientists claim that more than 61,000 people were killed last summer due to rising temperatures during the climate crisis.
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