Austria hits record temps, wildfires rage in Greece and Albania as Europe feels the heat

Europe is experiencing extreme heat, with Austria recording a new national temperature record of 41.2C in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg on Wednesday. This marks the second consecutive day of record-breaking temperatures, following Tuesday's 41C in Vienna. The continent, described as the world's fastest-warming, has been battered by heatwaves and destructive wildfires throughout the summer.

The current heatwave's focus has shifted eastward, with emergency services in Albania battling a wildfire in the southern Mallakaster region, leading to the evacuation of approximately 15 families, their livestock, and pets. Efforts are also underway to control another wildfire in a mountainous area south of Gjirokast. In Greece, wildfires continue to rage, particularly in areas that have already been hard-hit.

Italy has placed its major cities under a red heat alert, with temperatures nearing 40C in some regions. The Vatican moved Pope Leo's first general audience after the July break indoors to escape the sweltering conditions in Rome. Tourists in the Italian capital sought shade, with one visitor from Mexico, Diego Amaya, noting, "I suppose it's better to hold it indoors because of the heat."

The extreme heat and drought are also creating energy challenges. Hungary has appealed to companies and households to reduce power consumption to ease pressure on the national grid. Budapest is bracing for the peak of the heatwave, with temperatures expected to climb close to 40C. Dwindling water levels on the Danube River have forced Hungary to significantly reduce operations at its sole nuclear power plant, which relies on the river for cooling, exacerbating an energy crisis. Similarly, Slovenia's Krško nuclear power plant, which supplies Croatia, announced it would begin reducing reactor output due to high temperatures and low flows on the Sava River.

“

I suppose it's better to hold it indoors because of the heat.