European heatwave - latest updates as red alerts and record temperatures continue

As temperatures soar across the world, extreme heat is putting children’s health at risk, locking them out of education and making them increasingly anxious about the future, Save the Children have said, adding that children affected by poverty, inequality and discrimination are disproportionately impacted.

Here are five ways the organisation has said scorching heatwaves are impacting the rights of children:

1. Health impacts: Children exposed to extreme heat are at greater risk of respiratory disease, kidney disease and other health hazards.

2. Disrupted learning: Recent heatwaves have seen schools close around the world.

3. Hunger: Across the world, crop failures and the death of livestock brought about by extreme heat put food out of reach for children and families and often end up pushing prices up for everyone.

4. Unable to play: With authorities warning people to stay inside, children are more likely to be cooped up, lonely and unable to do activities that are critical to their physical and mental development.

5. Psychological distress: Hot summer days drive up the number of people experiencing mental health emergencies, according to recent research.

Fire planes and ground crews from several European countries were heading to Greece where wildfires have intensified as relentless heatwave conditions are keeping much of southern Europe above 40C (104F).

Three firefighting teams from Poland, Romania and Slovakia were due in Greece on Thursday, while Israel had pledged two firefighting aircraft, adding to the four planes from Italy and France already operating outside Athens.

New evacuations were ordered on Wednesday as wildfires raged near the Greek capital. A second heatwave hit the Mediterranean country from the west following days of record-high temperatures that baked southern Europe.

In a round-the-clock battle to preserve forests, industrial facilities and holiday homes, evacuations continued for a third day along a motorway connecting Athens to the southern city of Corinth.

Temperatures in southern Greece are expected to reach 44C (111F) by the end of the week, in the second heatwave to hit Europe's Mediterranean south in two weeks.

Several tourists gathered at China’s scenic “Flaming Mountains” tourist spot to experience spiking temperatures amid continuing heatwaves lashing Asia and much of the northern hemisphere.

Situated in Xinjiang, the Flaming Mountains are a popular tourist attraction that draw thousands to the northern rim of the Turpan Depression each summer, as people come to gaze at corrugated slopes of brown-red sandstone.

The ground at the spot emanates heat not experienced before by many.

Stuti Mishra reports:

Wildfires continue to burn for a third day west of the Greek capital Athens, with air water bombers resuming operations at first light and firefighters working to keep flames away from coastal refineries.

Fanned by erratic winds, the fires have gutted dozens of homes, prompted hundreds of people to flee and blanketed the area in thick smoke. Temperatures could climb to 43C on Thursday, forecasters said.

Residents have been left surveying the wreckage of their homes after the wildfires, which has been dubbed a “fiery hell” by local media.

“Everything burned, everything. I will throw it all, it’s all waste. The boiler burned, it’s done, it melted,” said Abbram Paroutsidis, 65.

The European Space Agency has pointed to climate change as one of the deciding factors behind the extreme weather events, particularly heatwaves.

Speaking to Sky News, Dr. Clement Albergel said: “If there’s one kind of weather extreme that we can clearly link to human-induced climate change, it’s worsening heatwaves.”

“Heatwaves are getting hotter, they are occurring at a higher frequency, increasing the likelihood of sequential heatwaves.”

This comes after the World Meteorological Organisation said there was “no immediate respite in sight” with a continuation of extreme heat potentially extending into August.

Red alerts for extreme heat have been issued for 23 of Italy’s 27 biggest cities, including the capital Rome, Naples, Florence and Verona.

With the heatwave set to hit peak temperatures today, the alert means that the extreme heat will affect everyone, not just those from vulnerable groups.

Electricity consumption reached a 2023 record on Tuesday afternoon as people ramped up the air condition to cope with the heat, grid operator Terna said.

Hospitals across the country have seen a shharp increase in the number of people seeking emergency care for heat-related illnesses.

Travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere in the world may be looking with concern at planned trips to the Mediterranean.

As the busiest summer getaway since 2019 begins, travellers to southern Europe are likely to experience extreme heat. An area of high pressure appears to have settled over the Med with little sign of abating.

The deadly “Charon” heatwave (so named by Italian meteorologists) is gripping southern France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey, as well as smaller countries in the Mediterranean region.

Travel Correspondent Simon Calder reports:

The planning system must change to allow local authorities to address climate change and contribute towards net zero, a new report has found.

The Spatial Planning for Climate Resilience and Net Zero report, commissioned by the Committee for Climate Change (CCC), analysed national and local planning policy as well as an evidence review, case studies and a survey of planning practitioners.

Researchers found a disparity between the potential of the planning system as a tool for driving carbon reductions and its actual performance on the ground. They also said there has been a failure by successive governments to prioritise the role of planning in tackling climate objectives, including net zero targets.

Elsewhere, the report found that no local plan was identified as being fully aligned with the UK's net zero pathway and that guidance on climate adaptation, like resilience to heatwaves, is insufficiently developed.

It comes after CCC chairman Lord Deben warned last month that the planning system "must not prevent the rollout of infrastructure needed to deliver net zero".

Campaigners, planners and industry stakeholders, including the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) who produced the report, are now calling for widespread planning reform.

Historic heatwaves are sweeping the planet from China to Europe and the United States, with 2023 on track to become the hottest year on Earth since records began.

Rome and Catalonia on Tuesday recorded their highest temperatures ever, provisional data suggests, as southern Europe is gripped by extreme heat and wildfires.

Meteorologists predict this week Europe can record its highest temperature ever as parts of Italy are forecast to cross 48C (118.4F).

Stuti Mishra reports: