'Want to Jump into the Fountain'... Southern Europe Soars Up to 45 Degrees

Heatwave Alerts in 20 Cities Including Rome and Florence
Maximum Temperature Reaches Up to 41.8°C

Extremely intense heatwaves, strong enough to endanger even the lives of healthy individuals, are striking Southern Europe.

On the 18th (local time), a man is dipping his head in the water of a fountain to cool off the heat at Piazza del Popolo in Rome, Italy. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

According to the Lazio Meteorological Agency on the 18th (local time), the highest temperature recorded in Rome, the capital of Italy, was 41.8 degrees Celsius. This is the highest temperature ever recorded in Rome. The previous highest temperature in Rome was 40.7 degrees Celsius in June last year.

The Italian Ministry of Health issued heatwave warnings for 20 cities including Rome and Florence on the same day. On the 19th, the number of cities under heatwave warnings will expand to 23. Ministry of Health officials warned that the heatwave could pose a threat not only to vulnerable groups but also to healthy individuals.

Tourists and citizens were also seen cooling off by getting sprayed with water from fountains scattered throughout Rome.
[Photo by Reuters·Yonhap News]

In Rome, volunteers dispatched by the Civil Protection Department took to the streets to distribute water bottles at crowded tourist attractions such as the Colosseum. Tourists and citizens were also seen cooling off by standing under water streams at fountains throughout Rome.

Due to the record-breaking heatwave, Roberto Gualtieri, the mayor of Rome, stated, "Entering fountains in Rome is prohibited," and added, "Using an application, you can easily find places to drink potable water throughout the city."

On the 18th, a woman is resting near a fountain in Madrid, Spain.
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Not only in Rome but also in some areas of southern Italy such as Apulia, Basilicata, and Calabria, thermometers rose to 40 degrees Celsius. Currently, due to the influence of high pressure, heatwaves are occurring on the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

In some parts of Sicily and Sardinia, the highest temperatures were recorded at 43 to 44 degrees Celsius, while Florence and Bologna recorded highs of 37 to 38 degrees Celsius.

Not only Italy but also northeastern mainland Spain regions such as Catalonia and Aragon, as well as the Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca, exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.

A man is washing his hair at the fountain in Popol Square. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

The Catalonia Meteorological Agency announced that the mercury reached 45 degrees Celsius at the Boadella reservoir near the French border, marking the highest temperature ever recorded in the Catalonia region. Between Italy and France, the French Mediterranean island of Corsica and the southern French Var region also saw temperatures soar to 40 and 38 degrees Celsius, respectively.

US CBS News reported, "Europe is warming faster than anywhere else in the world," and added, "The European Space Agency predicted that the highest temperatures on Sicily and other areas could reach up to 48 degrees Celsius."