Belgium under health alert as record-high heatwave hits the continent
Belgium is the latest country to issue a heat alert due to extreme temperatures as the heat is expected to intensify in the days ahead, Belgium’s Royal Meteorological Institute announced. Starting on Wednesday, maximum temperatures will reach and exceed 35°C in most regions, and an orange alert will be in effect across almost the entire country. The United Kingdom’s health authorities have also issued a “red heat health” alert for Wednesday and Thursday as June’s all-time record temperatures are forecast to be broken.London is “cooking,” United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said on Tuesday at London Climate Action Week. It is only the second time such a warning has ever been issued by UK authorities. The first was in July 2022, when temperatures exceeded 40°C.The Met Office is forecasting a high of 38°C in southern England. Temperatures reached 34.6°C on Tuesday in Wisley, south-west of London.“Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat,” said Mark Sidaway, deputy chief forecaster for the UK Met Office.During extended periods of heat, the body’s ability to regulate its internal temperature and eliminate excess heat is compromised, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.Authorities in France, Italy and Spain have also issued warnings about the risks of extreme heat for tens of millions of people.Eurostar said it cancelled four trains planned between London and Paris on Wednesday and Thursday “due to expected adverse weather.’’France recorded its hottest day ever on Tuesday, 23 June, prompting the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum to restrict visiting hours while schools and transportation schedules were disrupted.Italy’s Health Ministry issued “red alerts” for 16 cities on Wednesday, with major cities such as Rome, Milan, Florence and Turin affected. The “bollino rosso” red alert signals emergency conditions that can affect not only vulnerable people but also healthy adults.Temperatures could reach highs of 41°C in Florence and 38°C in Milan, while Rome and Naples are forecast to remain below 36°C.Spain also declared a red weather alert in five provinces as temperatures neared 40°C. The epicentre of the heatwave is in the north of the country.
