Extreme heat wave hits Europe, seven victims in France

An early and extreme heat wave is involving a large part of Western Europe, causing victims, health alarms and record temperatures in some European states, Periscopi broadcasts.

French authorities have confirmed that seven people have lost their lives as a direct or indirect consequence of the high temperatures that have hit the country during the past few days.

What I can say today is that there have been seven deaths directly or indirectly related to the heat of”, said French government spokeswoman Maud Bregoon for TF1 television.

According to the Meteo France agency, the highest temperature is recorded near Hossegor, southwest France, where the thermometer reached 37.1 degrees Celsius. Authorities warn that temperatures in some areas of the country could exceed 36 degrees in the coming days.

French mathematicians have announced that this has been the hottest day ever recorded in May since the beginning of official measurements. The average national temperature reached 24.4 °C, breaking the previous record of 23.7 °C set in 1944.

Record temperatures have also been recorded in the United Kingdom. According to Matt Office, Monday was the hottest day of May in the history of meteorological measurements, with temperatures reaching up to 34.8 °C in Key Gardens, southwest of London.

The British Weather Agency named this phenomenon “extremely unusual for the United Kingdom, even during the middle of the summer”.

Spain is also facing extreme temperatures. The Aemat meteorological service warned that in some regions temperatures will be moved between 36 and 38 degrees Celsius, while in certain areas they could reach as much as 40 °C.

Meanwhile, eight departments in France have been placed on orange alert for heat, the second highest level of weather warning, while citizens have been asked to avoid long exposure to the sun and take protective measures.

This is the first case France activates the national heat alarm system since May, since its establishment in 2004.