The heat has already caused wildfires and premature deaths in Europe. For example, it is feared that illness attacks will increase as the heat wave continues.
14:06•Updated 14:40
The heat wave threatens to cause thousands of additional deaths in Europe, predict the World Meteorological Organization WMO and the World Health Organization WHO. They will hold a press conference on Tuesday about the ongoing heat wave.
will show the press conference live in this story starting at 15:00 Finnish time.
Britain’s heat record was broken on Tuesday at 11 o’clock local time, when the mercury reached 39.1 degrees, says the country’s Meteorological Institute.
The temperature is predicted to rise to 41 degrees today, Tuesday. Meteorologist Rachel Ayers describes the readings to the news agency AP as unprecedented.
Already on Monday in Britain, the record set three years ago, which was 38.7 degrees, was broken.
High temperatures have also been measured in other European countries, and on Tuesday the situation will become even more difficult.
In Belgium, for example, the 40 degree limit is also exceeded. In the Netherlands, the mercury rose to 35.4 degrees on Monday and in Ireland to 33 degrees – the highest since 1887, reports the news agency AFP.
Germany is also preparing for the hottest days of the year on Tuesday and Wednesday. The temperature will rise above 40 degrees in the western and southwestern parts of the country, says Andreas Friedrich, representative of the German weather service to CNN (you will switch to another service).
The country’s heat record, 41.2 degrees, is from 2019. According to Friedrich, it can be done away with.
Fainting increased
In Britain, preparations are made for the effects of the heat both in health care and, for example, in public transport.
It has been warned that hospitals and medical transport may become congested as the temperature continues to rise on Tuesday. Thanks to the government’s additional funding, more staff have been hired for the telephone emergency.
The London Ambulance Service received 6,600 calls related to the heat wave on Monday. For example, more people fainted than usual, and fainting is believed to increase as the temperature rises.
In the southern and eastern parts of Britain, water companies have warned of the growing need to reduce water pressure and even cut off the water supply in some households.
Train traffic has been drastically reduced, as the tracks suffer from the heat. Their bending has already been reported. In Suffolk, the track temperature was a record 62 degrees.
People are also advised to avoid traveling by train on Tuesday. Attempts have been made to protect the necessary journeys by painting the train tracks white, so that they would not bend from the heat.
Some of Britain’s transport infrastructure dates back to the Victorian era and was not made to withstand this kind of heat. According to estimates, replacing it with heat-resistant infrared will take years.
Heat is a threat even to basic health
Temperatures are exceptional in Britain, and the first ever red weather warning is in place. It covers most of central, south-eastern and northern England. The hottest is the area bordered by London, Manchester and York.
The health threat has been raised to the fourth level. It means that the threat does not only apply to risk groups in poor health, but also to basic health and young people.
Many schools have closed their doors or allowed children flexibility in school uniform requirements. However, the British government has urged schools to remain open in principle.
In France, Spain and Portugal, forest fires ignited by the heat wave have been trying to be tamed for days. Tens of thousands have had to leave their homes.
For example, according to the authorities, twenty fires are still raging in Spain. The fire has destroyed an estimated 4,500 hectares. In southwestern France, firefighters are still fighting to bring under control two massive fires that have caused widespread destruction.
The hot weather is believed to have caused at least 748 deaths in Spain and Portugal, where temperatures have soared to 47 degrees this month.