Heatwave "Cerberus" Strikes Europe
Italy and Greece have declared extremely risky weather conditions for the health of local residents and tourists as temperatures soar to record-breaking 50 degrees Celsius during the day. But it is not only here. The Italian authorities have announced an "exceptional" health risk in 16 cities, including Rome and Florence, this weekend as a heatwave sweeps across Europe, threatening to reach unprecedented temperatures. This heatwave has been dubbed "Cerberus" after the mythological three-headed creature from Dante's "Inferno". A red alert for intense heat has been issued in a total of 16 Italian cities, as this Mediterranean country experiences an incredible rise in temperatures.
Climate scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) warn that temperatures could reach 48 degrees Celsius (118.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, as well as in the southeastern region Apulia. This is potentially the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe.
The highest temperature in European history was broken on 11 August 2021, when a temperature of 48.8°C was recorded in Floridia, an Italian town in the Sicilian province of Syracuse. That record may be broken again in the coming days.
It is reported that in the capital city of Italy, Rome, temperatures could reach 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit).
Spain is also ablaze. At least 2,000 people were evacuated due to a wildfire that got out of control on the Spanish island of La Palma, authorities of the island reported on Saturday. The heatwave that has engulfed Europe is believed to be the cause.
The fire in La Palma started early Saturday morning in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area in the north of the island in the Canary Islands. The fire forced the evacuation of Puntagorda and the neighboring town of Tijarafe. According to the president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, at least 12 houses were destroyed during the spread of the fire.
Spain's State Meteorological Agency reports that even the Spanish resort island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean, known for its mild climate, has reached temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit). And even in the traditionally mild region of Navarre in the north of the country, temperatures are reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
But it's not just the south, not just Italy, Greece, and Spain. ESA has also warned that the heatwave in Europe has only just begun, with extreme weather conditions expected in France, Germany, and Poland. This comes at a time when the continent is expecting a record number of tourists for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
What measures are being taken to preserve health and life? For example, the Italian Ministry of Health recommends that citizens consume lighter meals and avoid direct sunlight from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Particular concern arises for those who work outdoors, especially after a 44-year-old construction worker in Italy tragically passed away after collapsing on the roadside earlier this week. Heatwaves are one of the most deadly natural hazards, with over 61,000 people losing their lives during a scorching summer heatwave in Europe last year.