Deadly heatwave across Europe sparks wildfires and shuts nuclear plant

By&nbspEuronews

Published on 04/07/2025 - 1:40 GMT+2

As a deadly heatwave sweeps Europe, utmost upwind sparked wildfires successful Turkey which took nan life of an 81-year-old man. 

Hundreds of firefighters, supported by craft and helicopters, were deployed connected Thursday to extinguish a wildfire blazing successful nan Turkish coastal municipality of Cesme. 

An 81-year-old-man died from fume inhalation, according to nan province’s governor, while a full of 37 villagers were safely evacuated by first responders. 

Turkey has successful nan past week battled hundreds of fires crossed nan state that were fuelled by fierce winds, scorching power and debased humidity. The fires, astir of which person now been extinguished, led to nan removal of tens of thousands of people. 

Italy

According to experts, nan astir utmost power is expected successful Italy and Southern Europe connected Friday. 

Italy’s Health Ministry has said 17 of nan country’s 27 awesome cities were experiencing a power wave. Earlier successful nan week, astatine slightest two group died. 

Bolzano, successful bluish Italy, is facing progressively predominant heatwaves pinch temperatures reaching astir 37 degrees Celsius.  

The city’s location successful a vale basis, mixed pinch extended asphalt and constricted greenish space, has intensified nan heat. Conditions are moreover much terrible successful nan business zone, wherever basking confederate winds push further power into nan area. 

Authorities opportunity expanding municipality greenery is cardinal to lowering temperatures. Shaded areas tin beryllium up to 5 degrees cooler. Bolzano presently has astir 13,000 trees and plants 250 much each twelvemonth nether a municipal greening plan. However, ambiance experts opportunity thousands much are needed to person a meaningful cooling effect. 

Urban infrastructure, specified arsenic underground solid fibre cables and territory heating systems, limits wherever trees tin beryllium planted. In denser parts of nan city, officials opportunity artificial shading, specified arsenic umbrellas, could thief mitigate power exposure. 

Austria

Extreme temperatures continued to grip Austria connected Thursday, pinch highs reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius. In Salzburg, visitors sought alleviation from nan power successful nan metropolis centre, wherever sprinkler systems offered little cooling successful immoderate areas. 

The heatwave has highlighted shortcomings successful municipality planning, peculiarly successful densely built-up areas pinch small greenery. Large actual surfaces and a deficiency of shadiness person made parts of nan metropolis particularly difficult to endure. 

The number of basking days successful Salzburg- defined arsenic those exceeding 30°C - has doubled successful caller decades, rising from astir 10 to astir 20 days per year. 

The power and drought has besides accrued nan consequence of wildfires. In Upper Austria, respective fires person been reported. 

Authorities are taking preventative measures for illustration monitoring moisture levels successful hay and straw bales. They’re besides checking cultivation machinery and clearing it of barren debris to trim nan consequence of ignition. 

Switzerland

In nan Swiss canton of Aargau, nan Beznau atomic powerfulness works was partially disconnected from nan energy grid owed to nan ongoing heatwaves. One reactor was afloat unopen down while nan 2nd operated astatine 50% capacity. 

The plant’s usability Axpo said nan logic for nan shutdown was nan precocious h2o somesthesia of nan River Aare.

By shutting down nan plant, they dream to protect plants and animals successful nan stream from excessive pollution. Discharging its heated h2o into nan already over-heated adjacent stream would person endangered wildlife.

According to a 2024 study by nan EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is nan continent pinch nan fastest-rising temperatures connected Earth, having warmed doubly arsenic accelerated arsenic nan world mean since nan 1980s.