UPDATED: France registers record temperatures as death recorded in the UK, Italy, and Spain
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As a heat wave continues to scorch parts of Western Europe, a wildfire has broken out in northeastern Spain and France measured its highest-ever June temperature. The heat is expected to continue into the weekend.
A wildfire that broke out on Wednesday in the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia is still out of control after ravaging 6,500 hectares of land.
As Spain continues to experience a heat wave that could push temperatures above 40ºC, firefighting officials said they did not expect to have the blaze fully stabilized by Friday.
Helicopters continue fighting to extinguish a forest fire as smoke and flames rise in the distance in Bovera, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. Photo: EPA-EFE/Mario Gascon
Over 400 firefighters and military personnel are working to put out the flames. Five roads have been cut off to traffic, including the C-12 between Maials and Flix.
In Cordoba, in Spain a 17-year old boy died as consequence of the heat wave The victim died after swimming in a pool while suffering a heat stroke. Spanish peninsula is suffering a heat wave with temperatures reaching up to 45 degrees.
In Italy two elderly men died of suspected heat stroke as a heat wave rose in Italy.
A man was found dead in gardens near to Milan’s central station with initial indications pointing to the extreme heat as the cause of death.
Another elderly man died of suspected heat stroke near Ascoli Piceno in Marche.
The man, 82, went missing in the countryside on Wednesday after leaving home for some fresh air to relieve the sweltering heat.
France could experience highs of 45C and has raised its danger alert to the highest level as it braces for what could be its hottest ever day on record.
Temperatures in parts of the south of the country could reach 45C on Friday, which would topple the all-time high set in August 2003 at 44.1C.
It is also the first time since the graded heat danger system was introduced that France has used the red alert – the highest level.
Parts of Italy and Switzerland have also been placed on the highest red alerts following a day of record-breaking temperatures for June. In Switzerland, high temperatures expected across the nation have caused MeteoSwiss to issue the highest heatwave warning since 2015 for some regions.
In the UK, Police have issued a warning over cooling off in the hot weather after a 12-year-old girl drowned in the River Irwell in Greater Manchester.
