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Amid a persistent European heatwave, firefighters in Spain’s Catalonia region discovered two fatalities while battling a blaze on Tuesday.
Catalan authorities confirmed in a statement that the bodies were located after firefighters extinguished a fire in the Torrefeta area, near Coscó.
Separately, a 10-year-old American tourist visiting the Palace of Versailles tragically died after falling ill, according to French media reports.
Earlier in the day, France’s ecological transition minister reported two heat-related deaths in the country, with firefighters treating over 300 individuals on Tuesday.
The European continent is currently experiencing record-breaking temperatures, a phenomenon that the UN’s climate agency attributes to “human-induced climate change” and warns is becoming increasingly frequent.
French broadcaster TF1 reported that the 10-year-old collapsed in the courtyard of the Palace of Versailles around 18:00 local time on Tuesday, in front of her parents. Despite the immediate response of the castle’s security team and emergency services, she was pronounced dead an hour later.
June marked record-breaking heat for both Spain and England. Aemet, Spain’s weather service, reported that last month’s average temperature of 23.6C (74.5F) “pulverised records,” surpassing normal averages for July and August.
Firefighters in Catalonia worked through Tuesday night to establish perimeters for the Torrefeta and Florejacs fires, the region’s fire service reported.
In a Wednesday statement, the fire service said efforts were focused on solidifying the perimeter, extinguishing fires in structures, and ensuring no additional victims were present.
As of 22:37 local time on Tuesday (21:37 BST), Catalonia’s emergency services reported they were working within a perimeter of approximately 6,500 hectares, spanning roughly 40km (25 miles).
According to Spanish media reports, the two individuals who perished in the Coscó fire were a farm owner and a worker, aged 32 and 45 respectively.
Firefighters confirmed finding the two bodies “lifeless” while combating the blaze. Salvador Illa, Catalonia’s regional president, announced plans to visit the affected area.
Spanish forecaster Aemet predicts highs of 41C in Córdoba, southern Spain, for Wednesday.
France’s ecological transition minister, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, attributed the two deaths in her country to “heat-related illness.”
This comes as France recorded its second-hottest June since record-keeping began in 1900, surpassed only by June 2023, which also saw intense heat.
Four departments in France remain under the highest “red alert” level for heat: Aube, Cher, Loiret, and Yonne, according to the country’s weather service, Meteo France.
The forecast anticipates some storms in eastern France, with highs of 37C in Metz in the northeast.
In Italy, a 75-year-old man died in Budoni, Sardinia, after falling ill due to the extreme heat. Another man, 60, became sick while on the beach of Lu Impostu in San Teodoro. Emergency services were unable to save either individual.
Temperatures in the region have exceeded 40C in recent days.
Also in Italy, two construction workers in Tezze sul Brenta, Vicenza, were rushed to the hospital at 15:30 local time on Tuesday after falling ill due to heat exposure while working in a trench.
One of the workers is reportedly in a coma, according to Italian news agency Ansa. He was resuscitated, intubated, and transported to San Bassiano hospital by helicopter.
Dimple Rana, a heat and microclimate specialist at sustainable development consultancy Arup, told the BBC there is “a big link between heat-related impact and age”.
In the UK, for example, Ms. Rana noted that most heat-related deaths occurred among older adults, while younger children, particularly those under five, were also at risk.
Ms. Rana also highlighted that individuals with lower incomes often perform more manual labor, resulting in greater exposure to high temperatures.
On Tuesday, intense heat triggered power outages in Florence city center due to peak air conditioner usage and overheating of underground electrical cables, Italian media reported.
The blackout on Tuesday afternoon left homes, hotels, and shops without power, disabling ATMs and deactivating alarm systems.
In Bergamo, overheating underground cables also caused a power outage affecting half the city. Piazza della Liberta remained lit, while Sentierone experienced darkness due to non-operational shops and limited nightlife.
The Bergamo blackout on Tuesday lasted for several hours, from 16:00 to 22:46 local time.
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that heatwaves are becoming more frequent as a result of human-caused climate change.
It warns that extreme hot weather will become more frequent and intense as the planet continues to warm.
Heat and microclimate expert Ms. Rana emphasizes the need for both reducing greenhouse gas emissions through clean energy initiatives and adapting to the changing climate.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the UN’s weather and climate agency, stated on Tuesday that “extreme heat is becoming more frequent and intense” due to human-induced climate change.
In a statement, the WMO added: “The effect of heat on human health is more pronounced in cities as a result of the urban heat island effect.”
“This is where urban environments are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, especially during hot periods, due to an abundance of paved surfaces, buildings, vehicles, and heat sources.”
“This additional heat in cities exacerbates heat stress and can increase mortality during hot periods,” the agency concluded.
South East Water confirms bottled water availability for customers at a Whitstable collection point.
Temperatures are expected to decline after several scorching days in parts of England.
Weather forecasters anticipate Tuesday as potentially the hottest day of the year in the South East.
It is crucial to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illness and understand appropriate responses.
Numerous mainland regions in the country remain under the second-highest alert level amidst the ongoing heatwave.
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