As heatwaves and wildfires ravaged swaths of the Northern Hemisphere, temperatures reached new highs on Monday, forcing the evacuation of 1,200 youngsters near a Greek seaside resort.
In a harsh reminder of the effects of global Heatwaves warming, health officials have issued warnings from North America to Europe and Asia, urging people to stay hydrated and seek shade from scorching sun.
A forest fire started in high winds outside Athens near the tourist seaside resort of Loutraki, where the mayor said holiday camps for youngsters were under threat.
China reported a new mid-July high of 52.2 degrees Celsius in the Xinjiang region’s village of Sanbao, breaking the previous high of 50.6 degrees Celsius set six years ago.
Heatstroke warnings had been issued in 32 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, primarily in the country’s central and southwestern regions.
According to the media reports, at least 60 people were treated for heatstroke, with 51 admitted to hospitals in Tokyo.
Several wildfires have erupted in rural regions east of Los Angeles in recent days in Southern California.
According to authorities, the largest, known as the Rabbit Fire, had burned roughly 8,000 acres and was 35 percent contained as of Monday morning.
Authorities in neighboring Canada reported 882 active wildfires on Monday, with 579 classified out of control.
Smoke from the fires has returned to the United States, causing air quality alerts in most of the Northeast.
In Europe, Italians were told to brace themselves for the summer’s most intense heatwave, as well as one of the most intense of all time, with a red alert issued for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna, and Florence.
Temperatures in Spain’s southern town of Villarrobledo reached 47 degrees Celsius.
In addition to the heat, parts of Asia have been hit by torrential rain.
After at least 40 people were killed in recent flooding and landslides amid monsoon rains, which are expected to continue through Wednesday, South Korea’s president vowed Monday to completely overhaul the country’s approach to extreme weather.
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