Temperatures skyrocketed as the European Heatwave moves north. Spain, France and Greece witnessed forest fires and Temperatures rose to 40°C in U, the highest ever.
Temperatures rose to unprecedented levels in UK on Tuesday. According to the Met Office, yesterday’s temperatures were 40°C. Rail services were stalled after tracks overheated and warped. Much of the infrastructure in Britain are Victorian and were not built to withstand such extremities in temperatures. A fire also broke out in Wennington, east London, where a grass fire spread to properties. The fire destroyed eight homes and a local church, evacuated residents told the BBC.
“ I reckon 15 to 20 houses might be gone or uninhabitable,” said Tim Stark a resident. Stark’s own home was burnt in the fire. “ My house is completely gone, as is the next door neighbour’s and three or four houses along that bit,” he rued. There were also fires in Leicestershire, East, North and Southern Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk , etc. Home Secretary Priti Patel has urged the public to follow safety procedures from the local fire stations. In London residents , the fire service urged residents to light barbecues or bonfires outside and dispose their burning cigarette ends safely.
Forest Fires in Europe
The English countryside wasn’t the only place affected by the European heat wave, forest fires broke out in Europe and North Africa too. Wildfires in Spain, France, Portugal and Greece have forced many to evacuate their homes. Two people died in Spain’s Zamora region and trains were stopped due to fire near the tracks. France issued extreme heat warning and Netherlands reported record July temperatures. Gironde region saw forest fires that destroyed 19,300 hectares of land last week.
“ Its a monster like octopus and its growing, growing and growing in the front, in the back and on both sides,” said Jean Luc Gleyze Gironde’s regional president.
Wildfires are still burning in France after cities like Nantes saw the worst heat in ages. More than 30,00 people fled and the government had to set up emergency shelters. Meanwhile, an elderly couple died while escaping fires in northern Portugal.
European Heatwave Moves North
The hottest temperatures have moved to northern Europe and east of UK. Forecasters say that it will move towards southern Belgium as well as western and south western Germany. Fire broke out at the Belgian resort of De Haan, setting fire to many vehicles.
In July 2019, the DWD weather service recorded temperatures as high as 41.2°C in the German city of Duisburg. Such temperatures are possible in similar areas along the Rhine river, said DWD spokesman Andreas Friedrich. Netherlands too saw record heat with Maastricht recording 38.9°C. In Spain and Portugal, the heat wave killed more than 1000 people. Temperatures in Portugal have hit record high at 47°C . The Portuguese national meteorological office IPMA has placed the whole country under fire alert. In Spain atleast 20 fires are burning without control. And forecasters in Italy warn temperatures as high as 40°C.
Why are Forests Burning and Temperatures Rising in Europe ?
Last time Europe saw such an exponential rise in temperatures was in 2003. The European Heatwave that year had reportedly killed 70,000 people. One of the biggest causes behind this phenomenon is climate change. The CO² build-up from burning fossil fuels hat trapped more heat in the atmosphere. This also means higher temperatures. Secondly, dramatically changing weather patterns can bring heat and rain to regions unaccustomed to both. This year a slow moving high pressure has brought hot air from North Africa. There are chances that more such heat waves would follow if government’s fail to keep their net-zero promises.
Although South-Asia too has seen a heat wave this summer, the case of Western Europe is different. Heat waves Western Europe shoot up temperatures faster than elsewhere. There are multiple factors at play here-drying out of the soil, changes in jet stream and high pressure areas that remain in the same place for a while.
Read More: Climate change: How the world has warmed since 1880
How the world is battling the climate change crisis.
(Inputs, BBC, Politico)
