Extreme heatwave leaves southern Europe reeling

A vicious heatwave has engulfed southern Europe, with punishing temperatures that have reached highs of 46C (115F) in Spain and placed almost the entirety of mainland France under alert.

- Ajit Niranjan Sam Jones Seville

Extreme heat, made stronger by fossil fuel pollution, has scorched Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece for several days as southern Europe endures its first big heatwave of the summer.

The temperatures have prompted the authorities in several countries to issue new health warnings and scramble firefighters to prevent wildfires from breaking out. More than 50,000 people in Turkey have been evacuated from their homes owing to forest fires, according to the interior ministry's disaster and emergency management authority.

António Guterres, the UN secretary general, said at a development conference in Seville yesterday: "Extreme heat is no longer a rare event - it has become the new normal."

The southern Spanish city is forecast to roast in more than 40C heat for the next three days and face nighttime temperatures of at least 25C until Thursday morning. Doctors have expressed alarm at the combination of hot days and uncomfortably warm nights, which can place a lethal stress on the human body.

In Italy, where 21 out of 27 cities were placed on the highest heat alert on Sunday, hospital admissions in some of the hottest regions - such as Tuscany - are up 20%. People have been advised not to venture outside between 11am and 6pm.