Tourists planning to visit Europe in the near future should heed warnings about the dangers of massive wildfires. This could also cause disruptions to logistics and air travel.
High temperatures have led to numerous deaths and wildfires. Since early July, countries such as France, Italy, Greece, and Portugal have seen daytime temperatures hover around 45 degrees Celsius.
The situation even affected the UK, where on July 18, the all-time high for meteorological observations was broken – 40 degrees Celsius. London Underground trains were slowed down, and some routes were cancelled altogether.
In Spain, 512 people have officially died from the heat, and 73 hectares of forest have been burned in forest fires. These figures are considered the worst in 000 years.
In Portugal, temperatures dropped slightly over the weekend from 47 degrees Celsius, but the risk of forest fires remains too high. Extensive firefighting efforts are mobilizing equipment and personnel, and at least 670 people have died from the heat.
The main cause of rising temperatures in Europe is unknown. A number of factors influence this rate: air pollution, atmospheric conditions, and more.
