A severe heatwave is sweeping across four southern European countries: Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal. For the past several days, daytime temperatures in most areas of these countries have hovered around 40 degrees Celsius.European weather and climate experts say the main cause of this heatwave is climate change. They warn that if the current pace and scale of climate change continue, frequent and prolonged heatwaves every summer will become a regular occurrence in the near future.Due to the intense sunlight and extreme heat, residents and tourists in these four countries are naturally facing great hardship. Authorities have advised people to avoid going outside unless absolutely necessary.Portugal is experiencing the worst of the heatwave. In this country, which spans 92,230 square kilometers, high alerts for heatwaves and wildfires have been issued in two-thirds of its territory. In the capital, Lisbon, temperatures are reaching up to 42 degrees Celsius daily.Because of the record-breaking heat, local authorities in Italy’s Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia, and Umbria regions are considering imposing bans on outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day. Italian labor unions have expressed support for this initiative and have demanded that the rule be implemented nationwide.On Sunday, Italy’s central government issued high alerts in 21 cities, including Rome, Milan, and Naples. Photos and videos circulating on social media show tourists in Rome gathering in shaded spots near the popular tourist attractions Colosseum and Trevi Fountain to escape the scorching sun. They are seen opening umbrellas and drinking water to stay cool.In Greece, the prolonged and widespread heatwave triggered wildfires in the southern part of the capital, Athens, last Thursday. Despite combined efforts involving 12 helicopters, 12 airplanes, and 130 firefighters, the blaze has not yet been fully brought under control.In Spain’s southern region, temperatures have fluctuated between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius almost daily for the past week. Spain has never before experienced such a prolonged heatwave. Residents and tourists there are reportedly in a state of near despair. Local authorities have advised people to avoid outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day and to drink plenty of water.A paper published this week in the UK-based medical journal The Lancet warns that if such heatwaves become regular occurrences in southern Europe, the rate of heat-related illnesses and heatstroke deaths in the region could quadruple.
