Europe has been struck for several days by a rare intensity wave, with temperatures reaching 46 ° C in Spain and Portugal. This meteorological phenomenon is caused by a heat dome, a high pressure system that imprisoned hot air on a large area, preventing any refreshment.
The heat has extended to Italy, France, Germany, Turkey and up to the Alps, where the freeze limit exceeded 5,000 meters, an unprecedented situation.
Faced with this early heat wave, the authorities of several European countries have sparked red alerts. Health services recommend staying underway, hydrate and monitor vulnerable people. Hospitals, already weakened in certain regions, fear saturation due to heat strokes. Schools, in certain areas, had to develop their schedules or temporarily close.
Beyond health risks, the heat wave causes a threat to the environment. In the south of France, in Greece and Portugal, the risk of fires are at their maximum. Several fire departures have already been identified, pushing the authorities to mobilize increased means of struggle. Drought also threatens agricultural crops, especially in wine and cereal areas.
This new scorching episode is part of a disturbing trend linked to climate change. Heat waves become more frequent, longer and more intense. According to climatologists, the multiplication of these extreme events is an alarm signal for political decision -makers, called to strengthen the policies of adapting and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
For European citizens, this heat wave sounds like a brutal reminder that climate change is already a reality. While summer is just beginning, vigilance remains, both for public health and for environmental protection.
