Spain and Portugal Heatwave Deaths Surge... Wildfires Hit, Europe on 'Alert'

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Due to the heatwave that has continued for several days mainly in Southern Europe, including Spain and Portugal, related deaths are occurring one after another, and wildfires are also breaking out consecutively, prompting countries to take emergency measures.

According to AFP and other sources on the 16th (local time), wildfires have been ongoing for several weeks in France, Spain, Portugal, and Greece due to the heatwave that began last month. Several firefighters died during wildfire suppression efforts earlier this week. In France and Spain, thousands of people evacuated due to wildfires on this day. In the Gironde region of France, where recent wildfires occurred, more than 12,200 people had evacuated by the morning of this day, and over 1,000 firefighters were engaged in wildfire suppression.

In Spain, following an unusual heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 45.7 degrees Celsius for several days, fires broke out one after another. Local authorities announced on this day that more than 3,000 people evacuated near Mijas due to a large wildfire. Local media reported that the Spanish National Public Health Institute stated that 360 deaths related to the nearly week-long heatwave had occurred.

In Portugal, where the daytime high temperature continues to exceed 40 degrees Celsius in many places, local health authorities reported 238 excess deaths from the 7th to the 13th. Excess deaths refer to additional deaths exceeding the number normally expected during a specific period. Most of the deceased were elderly people with underlying conditions, presumed to have died from heat-related illnesses caused by the heatwave.

The intensity of the heatwave is also spreading to the United Kingdom. The UK Met Office issued a 'red heat warning' for major areas including London from the 18th to the 19th. The UK Met Office forecasted that temperatures would exceed 40 degrees Celsius for the first time ever in the UK next week. The UK government convened an emergency response committee on this day.