A woman wearing a hat uses a phone during a heatwave, as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Bologna, Italy July 18, 2023. — Reuters
A sustained spell of dangerous heat was impacting the lives of millions of people across three continents on Wednesday as fires raged and health worries mounted.
Greece was battling wildfires that have been exacerbated by scorching weather and temperature records have been broken repeatedly in the United States, Europe and China.
Experts have said climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, has played a key role in worsening destructive weather like the current extreme temperatures.
The exceptional heat has prompted safety warnings, with France on Wednesday saying temperatures of up 40 degrees Celsius were expected in parts of the nation’s south.
Two forest fires, fanned by strong winds, were raging to the west of Athens, while another broke out on the tourist island of Rhodes — forcing locals to make painful decisions on whether to flee.
Beijing broke a 23-year-old record with 27 consecutive days of temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), forecasters said.
Tourists try to cool off at the City of Arts and Sciences during a heat wave in Valencia, Spain on July 18. — Reuters
Pedro, 48, and Juan, 45, metal workers, repair a guardrail on the Burjassot road during a heat wave near Valencia, Spain on July 18. — Reuters
Tourists queue to drink water from a fountain at the City of Arts and Sciences during a heat wave in Valencia, Spain on July 18. — Reuters
Doctor Claudio Consoli of Asl Roma 1 checks the blood pressure of Remo Mazzotta, 90, at he vistis him at home to give assistance and check on how he is coping with the heat as Italy issued red heat alerts with meteorologists warning that temperatures would rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy on July 18. — Reuters
Doctor Claudio Consoli of Asl Roma 1 visits Donatelli Fedeli, 58, at her home to give assistance and check on how she is coping with the heat as Italy issued red heat alerts with meteorologists warning that temperatures would rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy on July 18. — Reuters
A woman pours water on a man near the Colosseum, during a heatwave across Italy, as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy on July 18.— Reuters
People sit on stairs during a heatwave across Italy as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Bologna, Italy on July 18. — Reuters
Tourists take shelters from the sun with umbrellas as they walk near Fountain of Neptune and Piazza Maggiore, during a heatwave across Italy as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Bologna, Italy on July 18. — Reuters
A person cools off at the Fontana della Barcaccia, at the Piazza di Spagna, during a heatwave across Italy, as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy on July 18. — Reuters
People cool off near the Spanish Steps, during a heatwave across Italy, as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy on July 18. — Reuters
People cool off at the Piazza del Popolo, during a heatwave across Italy, as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy on July 18. — Reuters
People cool off at the Piazza del Popolo, during a heatwave across Italy, as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy on July 18. — Reuters
A person cools off at the Piazza del Popolo, during a heatwave across Italy, as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy on July 18. — Reuters
A girl rinses her head with water from a bottle fresh from a cooler in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on July 19 during a heat wave. — AFP
A farmer rinses his head with water from a bottle to cool off while standing in a field near Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on July 19 during a heat wave.— AFP
Palestinian children fill up water bottles from a cooler at a Bedouin village near Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on July 19 during a heat wave. — AFP
A farmer rinses his head with water to cool off while standing in a field near Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on July 19 during a heat wave. — AFP
An anti-riot police water canon vehicle sprays water during a fire at the settlement of Kandyli, near Athens, on July 19. — AFP
A woman (L) wearing a face mask to shelter from the sun walks on a street during heatwave conditions in Beijing on July 19. — AFP
People wearing head coverings to shelter from the sun cross the road during heatwave conditions in Beijing on July 19. — AFP
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