Experts warn ‘worst is yet to come’ as 111F African heatwave to boil Europe

Several European countries have issued weather warnings for hot temperatures as they remain in the grip of a long-lasting heatwave.

The Italian Health Ministry slapped a red warning, its highest, on 12 cities on Tuesday, as temperatures reached 40C (104F) in some areas.

The Ministry already announced that on Wednesday 13 cities will be affected by the red alert, which urges people to be careful as this prolonged heat could have a negative impact not just on vulnerable people but also on young and healthy Italians.

Speaking about the weather, a Spanish tourist in Rome named Carmen Diaz told AP: “It’s hellishly hot.” Using a fan to stave off the heat, she added: “These fans help a little too, but it’s really hot.”

The hot air coming from the African continent is pushing to boiling point also Greece, where certain forms of outdoor work including deliveries and construction have been banned during the central, and warmest, hours of the day amid health fears as temperatures hit 40C.

The Balkans are also experiencing sweltering conditions, with Croatia reporting 30C (86F) in the holiday hotspot Dubrovnik, the highest-ever temperatures of the Adriatic Sea. 

The mass use of air conditioning prompted by the heat in Serbia was noted by the state power company, which reported record energy consumption on Tuesday.

In Albania, a 72-year-old was found dead at his farm in Memaliaj, 125 miles south of Tirana, after he likely fell victim to the heat, according to local news outlet Panorama. Temperatures in the country are expected to hit 42C (107.6F).

Spain, areas of which have been affected by heat and drought for weeks, is set to remain blistering hot over the next few days, with national weather agency Aemet warning thermometers could soon reach 44C (111.2F) in the southern Guadalquivir river basin.

The heatwave is due to last until the end of the week, with experts in Greece predicting temperatures will peak on Wednesday and Thursday to reach 43C (109.4F).

The intense heat, which is also affecting Bosnia, Romania, Moldova and Turkey, is also raising the chances of forest fires.

The Italian civil protection service recorded on Monday alone 18 calls for help to quash wildfires in several southern regions, while around 200 forest fires have erupted in North Macedonia since the beginning of July.