Europe is experiencing a heatwave of unprecedented intensity, with red heat alerts covering most major Italian cities, including Trieste in the northeast and Messina in the southwest.

The extreme heat poses a threat to everyone, not just vulnerable groups. The scorching temperatures are attributed to a high-pressure system that has brought warmer, tropical air south of a jet stream over central Europe. Wildfires are also spreading across the continent, affecting countries like Greece and the Swiss Alps.

In Italy, the heatwave has led to temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) for several consecutive days. The Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily are projected to experience the hottest temperatures, reaching around 46°C to 47°C. This relentless heatwave has been dubbed the "week of hell" by local media.

The impact of the heatwave has been severe, with two people found dead in Palermo, Sicily, possibly due to the extreme heat. The situation is exacerbated for vulnerable populations, particularly the homeless, who lack access to adequate cooling facilities. Power cuts have also been reported in some areas as the demand for air conditioning soars.

The Italian health ministry has activated "heat codes" in emergency rooms to provide specialized care to patients suffering from heat-related symptoms. Admissions for conditions such as headaches, tachycardia, dehydration, and confusion have increased by 20%, highlighting the dangerous consequences of prolonged exposure to extreme heat, especially for vulnerable individuals.

Spain, Greece, and parts of the Balkans are also under red alerts due to the ongoing heatwave. The United Nations weather agency, the World Meteorological Organization, has warned that such extreme temperatures could persist into August, reflecting the new normal in a world influenced by climate change.

The situation in Greece is equally critical, with staff at the Acropolis planning to halt work for four hours daily in protest of unsafe working conditions during the heat. Wildfires continue to spread across the country, with evacuations from affected areas, including the evacuation of 1,200 children from a summer camp.

The climate crisis is identified as the primary factor behind the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in Greece. The lack of sufficient firefighters and emergency response teams has been a matter of concern, and the Greek government faces criticism for not addressing these challenges adequately.

With soaring temperatures expected to persist in the central and eastern Mediterranean, authorities are grappling with the need for urgent measures to protect lives and properties amid the ongoing heatwave. Photo by l0da_ralta, Wikimedia commons.