Wildfires rage as southwestern Europe swelters under intense heatwave

Southwestern Europe is enduring a relentless heatwave, with the Balkans now feeling the severe impact of record-breaking temperatures that have persisted for over a week. The extreme conditions have led to hundreds of excess deaths across the continent and are fueling growing concerns over the spread of wildfires.

In Croatia, the national weather service issued a red alert for several regions, including the capital, Zagreb, and the popular tourist destinations of Split and Dubrovnik. Dozens of firefighters, supported by four aircraft, are currently battling a wildfire that has engulfed pine forests on the tourist island of Vis, located southwest of Split. Neighboring Serbia's State Hydrometeorological Service warned of temperatures reaching 39 degrees Celsius on Monday.

Further south, Albania has managed to contain a wildfire that destroyed hectares of bushes and olive trees near the southern village of Klos over the weekend. Scientists have identified the heatwave, which commenced on June 20, as the worst recorded in Europe's history. The blistering conditions have disrupted power generation, damaged infrastructure, and overwhelmed healthcare systems.

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The areas affected look broadly the same as in the first wave, including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and to some extent Britain.

France has reported approximately 1,000 excess deaths during the heatwave, primarily among the elderly, with public health agencies warning the toll is expected to rise. Scientists emphasize that such an extreme heatwave would have been "virtually impossible" without human-induced climate change, which has dramatically increased the likelihood of soaring night-time temperatures.

Meteorologists predict a resurgence of extreme heat from July 5-6, affecting similar areas including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Britain. While extreme heat increases wildfire risks, localized rainstorms may offer some mitigation, though rainfall amounts can vary significantly. The heatwave has also been linked to further tragedies, including the deaths of two young boys in Cyprus found in a hot car, and two cyclists who died during a marathon event in Poland.

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The heatwave would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change, which has made this week's soaring night-time temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been just two decades ago.