Hundreds die as heatwave grips Europe and temperatures soar above 40ºC
- At least 360 people have died in Spain’s scorching heat, while in neighbouring Portugal, 238 more deaths were recorded from July 7-13 than in previous years
- High temperatures have been gripping southern Europe this week and have been blamed on climate change
Southwest Europe endured a sixth day of a summer heatwave on Saturday that has triggered devastating forest fires as parts of the continent braced for new temperature records early next week.
Firefighters in France, Portugal, Spain and Greece battled forest blazes that have ravaged thousands of hectares of land and killed several personnel since the start of the week.
It is the second heatwave engulfing parts of southwest Europe in weeks as scientists blame climate change and predict more frequent and intense episodes of extreme weather.
At least 360 people have died due to the heatwave in Spain with temperatures far above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees fahrenheit), newspaper La Vanguardia reported on Saturday citing the state-run Carlos III Health Institute.
On Friday alone, when temperatures in some areas of Spain rose to 45 degrees (113F), 123 died of causes linked to the extreme heat. High temperatures have been gripping southern Europe this week and have been blamed on climate change.
In neighbouring Portugal, 238 more deaths were recorded between July 7 and 13 than in comparable periods in previous years, the Lusa news agency reported. These deaths were attributed to the extreme heat and not just coronavirus, it added.