In Spain's Catalonia region, rampant wildfires have left firefighters struggling to cope. Authorities reported that the fires resulted in two deaths on the 1st and another two on the 2nd due to the ongoing heatwave. Similar unfortunate reports have surfaced from Italy and France.

Recent temperature maps reveal a deep red indicating extreme heat sweeping across Europe from west to east. Meteorologists indicate that this recent heat phenomenon is caused by a heat dome effect, where high pressure suppresses upward movement of warm air, compressing it near the surface. Liz Bentley, the CEO of the Royal Meteorological Society, stated, “We are currently under a heat dome, which is a slowly moving area of high pressure, causing high temperatures to accumulate day by day and week by week. This heat dome has moved from North Africa to Europe, leading to extreme temperatures across the continent.”

Research suggests a strong correlation between climate change and the appearance of the heat dome effect. Bentley added, “High-temperature events will occur more frequently, persist longer, and become more intense. Therefore, we are facing record-breaking high temperatures, with daily records being set across Europe.” The impact of high temperatures is evident as residents and tourists are seen carrying umbrellas or playing in water to cool down. Governments in affected countries are taking measures, with the French government issuing a red alert for several central regions, urging citizens to be cautious of the extreme heat.

Additionally, a nuclear power plant in northern Switzerland has temporarily shut down its reactor due to excessively high river water temperatures used for cooling. As for the wildfires, Turkey claims that the fire in Cesme on the eastern Mediterranean coast has been brought under control, but for safety reasons, 50,000 residents have been evacuated from the area.