Due to the extreme heat in the central and northern part of Italy, at least three people died. In Milan, the number of people who turn to health institutions due to complaints caused by high temperatures has increased by 35 percent.
In that city, the use of electricity has also increased due to the operation of air conditioners, which is why shops and restaurants sometimes go "blackout", reports Reuters.
Hundreds of firefighters are fighting fires in the south of France, especially in the Gard region, where it registered as much as 45,9 degrees and where about 600 hectares of land burned and dozens of houses and vehicles were destroyed, the competent services said. 700 firefighters and 10 planes are involved in extinguishing the fire, and several roads are closed.
French media reported that a man was arrested for causing a fire in Gard, writes Tanjug.
In Paris, a record temperature was also measured this year, and the authorities issued a ban on driving older cars in order to at least slightly curb the pollution caused by the heat.
Across Spain, very high temperatures of as much as 43 degrees were recorded in some regions. In 40 Spanish regions, out of 50, a weather alert is in effect, while the declaration of an extreme risk situation is being considered in seven regions.
In north-east Spain, in Girona, the temperature reached 43,9 degrees, while the Catalan government said it had managed to contain 90 percent of the fires that had engulfed more than 60 square kilometers of land in the north-eastern province of Tarragona. As stated, two more fires are active in the central part of Toledo.
And in Great Britain today is the hottest day since the beginning of the year, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees.
"This year on track to be the hottest ever"
The World Meteorological Organization announced that 2019 is on track to be the warmest year on record, while the period from 2015 to 2019 would be declared the warmest five-year period.
The heat wave that hit Europe is "absolutely consistent" with the extremes associated with greenhouse gas emissions, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
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