The Foreign Office has issued warnings for Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus due to extreme temperatures.
The UK’s Foreign Office has issued travel advice for Brits headed to Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, as a heatwave is causing dangerously high temperatures across the European Union. Forecasters in Northern Europe are warning of soaring temperatures in the weeks to come due to an early summer heatwave.
Meteo France, France’s national weather agency, has echoed these warnings, cautioning that coming high temperatures put “everyone at risk, even healthy people.” Portugal recently recorded its highest temperature this year at 40.5C while parts of Spain have seen the mercury rise above 42C, reports the Mirror.
Southern Europe is already seeing severe heat, with Chios in Greece currently experiencing a fierce wildfire. Locals were evacuated after the fire began on the island over the weekend.
The UK‘s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) has issued warnings on its website about extreme heat in four countries, including in Greece, where night-time temperatures are hovering above 30C across much of the country.
The FCDO has also issued heat-related warnings for Turkey, Cyprus and Spain:
Greece: “Greece can experience extreme natural phenomena such as earthquakes, wildfires, extreme heat and flash floods.
“Take extra care when planning a hike or walk, especially during higher temperatures than you are used to. Trails often lack shade and the quality of route markings can vary.
“Do not light fires as it is both dangerous and illegal due to the high risk of wildfires.”
Turkey: “Extreme temperatures can affect many areas of Turkey over the summer months. Wildfires happen frequently in Turkey during summer.”
Cyprus: “The Department of Meteorology of Cyprus issues warnings for severe weather, especially during summer. Weather can sometimes cause travel disruption.”
Spain: “Temperatures in some parts of Spain can change very quickly. Take extra care when planning a hike or walk. Check local weather reports for warnings of extreme heat or cold temperatures.”
Bas Amelung, Wageningen University environmental systems analysis professor, forecasts that popular holiday destinations like Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey could become unbearably hot in summers to come.
“Countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey that currently attract the traditional ‘sun and sand’ summer tourists are likely to become too hot for comfort in the summer,” he cautions.
“People take decisions based on their perceptions,” Amelung further explains. “So if a large majority of holidaymakers thinks some European destinations will soon be ‘too hot’, they may well start adapting, either by going somewhere else in summer or by going to the same place in another season.”
In Chios, the government declared a state of emergency following the outbreak of the fires on Sunday, June 22, leading to several villages being evacuated.
As of Tuesday, June 24, the wildfires are still raging, with hundreds of firefighters, aided by aircrafts, tackling multiple blazes.
The fires have caused significant disruption, including power cuts, water shortages, and property damage.
Hundreds of firefighters, backed by aircrafts, have been battling numerous wildfires in various parts of the island.
