Millions of people across Europe, including in France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, are struggling with extreme heat as the continent's latest heatwave intensifies.
On August 11, meteorological agencies recorded temperatures above 35°C in several European countries, where forecasts indicate that over 135 million people will experience the scorching weather. The UK recorded its hottest day of the year as temperatures in western London hit 38.1°C, surpassing the previous high of 38°C logged in June.
Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, and in some places, countries are not well prepared to cope with the heat. A series of heatwaves and droughts have fueled severe wildfires this summer and are believed to be linked to thousands of deaths so far. Scientists attribute the increasing intensity and frequency of heatwaves to human-induced climate change.
UK: Nurses and Patients Suffer Heat Exhaustion
In the UK, nurses have fainted from heat exhaustion while working in hospitals lacking air conditioning, according to the Royal College of Nursing. "The heat here is truly unbearable," pharmacist Bailey Williamson told AFP. Patients in hospitals are also severely affected, Williamson added.
"People lying in hospital beds are very, very ill and can't even breathe because of the heat—the situation is very bad," Williamson said. Hospitals have reported a rise in heatstroke cases, and the National Health Service (NHS) is struggling to meet demand. "It's scary, it's scary," Williamson said about this summer's heatwaves. "I think it's a real sign of how bad climate change has become."
France, Italy, Spain: Record-High Temperatures
France's meteorological agency recorded 38°C in Paris, and much of the country has been placed under a heat alert. Similar temperatures are forecast to affect 29 million people in Italy, particularly along the western coast, the Po Valley, the "heel" of the Italian peninsula, and on the islands.
Much of the Iberian Peninsula is also likely to be affected, with about 25 million people in Spain potentially impacted. Spain's meteorological agency (Aemet) recorded temperatures of up to 37°C in the center of the country on August 11.
