Parts of Asia and southern Europe are facing violent weather conditions with scorching temperatures and extreme storms, leading to increased risks of fatalities worldwide, according to global weather experts.
The World Meteorological Organization has issued a warning that the heatwave is intensifying, with temperatures in North America, Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean expected to exceed 40°C (104°F) for an extended period of time this week.
In Europe, Spain, Italy, and Greece are particularly at risk of wildfires. The European Union’s emergency management service has classified parts of these countries as being in “very extreme danger” of fires. The Italian island of Sardinia could experience temperatures exceeding 47°C (116°F), while other cities in Italy may reach 40°C (104°F). Rome is preparing for temperatures as high as 42°C (107°F), with authorities distributing bottled water and assisting individuals who are affected by the heat.
Meanwhile, wildfires have erupted on the Canary Island of La Palma in Spain, leading to the evacuation of over 4,000 residents. In Greece, near the capital Athens, fires have also intensified, resulting in the displacement of residents and the evacuation of children from a summer camp. Efforts to control the flames involve 200 firefighters and multiple aircraft.
In Switzerland, a forest wildfire has prompted the evacuation of several mountain villages, with approximately 150 emergency responders working to extinguish the fire.
In China, Typhoon Talim has made landfall, causing power outages for approximately 15,000 people in the Guangdong province. The storm has also affected Hong Kong and is heading towards Hainan province. Schools and the stock market in Hong Kong were closed as a precautionary measure.
China has been experiencing record-breaking temperatures, with the northwest region reaching nearly 51°C (126°F) in the Xinjiang region. Beijing is also enduring a scorching summer, with temperatures surpassing 40°C (104°F) for three consecutive days in June.
Climate experts warn that these extreme weather events are not isolated incidents but are part of a larger pattern driven by climate change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions. They anticipate that such extreme conditions will persist and intensify globally.
Hannah Cloke, a climate scientist and hydrology professor at the University of Reading, emphasizes that the injection of heat energy into the Pacific Ocean caused by El Niño will likely exacerbate weather extremes. This includes stronger storms, altered weather patterns leading to droughts in some areas and heavy rainfall in others.
Across Asia, the combination of scorching temperatures and heavy rainfall has resulted in heat strokes and flash floods. South Korea has reported at least 40 deaths, with individuals trapped in flooded underpasses. Japan has issued heatstroke alerts in 23 out of 47 prefectures, including Tokyo, where temperatures have reached 37.5°C (99.5°F). The Tokyo Fire Department has issued an “ambulance shortage alert” due to the high number of heat-related incidents. In northern Akita prefecture, over a dozen rivers have overflowed, affecting hundreds of homes.
India has also been affected by flash floods in the Assam state, resulting in at least eight deaths and the displacement of over 100,000 people due to a river breaking its banks after heavy rains.
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In the United States, a prolonged and dangerous heatwave is expected in the Southwest and south-central regions, while stormy conditions are forecasted for the Midwest, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys. Additionally, Hawaii’s Big Island is anticipating up to 10 inches of rainfall due to the approaching Tropical Storm Calvin.
