Italy is currently experiencing an intense heatwave with temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in various cities across the nation. Amidst the scorching weather, tourists were spotted finding relief at a fountain, where they filled water bottles and used fans to cool themselves amidst the crowds.
Meanwhile, Greece is facing its sixth day of devastating wildfires due to the high temperatures and dry conditions. As a result, around 19,000 people had to be evacuated from the island of Rhodes.
In eastern China’s Hangzhou city, in the Fuyang district, a village was hit by massive floods. Tragically, at least five people lost their lives, and three others are reported missing. To ensure the safety of residents, over 1,500 individuals were evacuated from the affected area, as per reports from state media.
In western India, hundreds of rescuers are continuing their search for people who are still missing after heavy monsoon rains triggered a massive landslide. The tragedy has claimed at least 27 lives so far, and the search efforts entered their fourth day as of Sunday.
Here are some updates on extreme weather and climate-related events:
- Associated Press science writer Seth Borenstein delves into recent extreme temperature figures, from the hottest June on record to scorching global average temperatures in early July. These records shed light on the alarming reality of our warming world.
- On both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, temperatures soared to blistering highs. In the city of Calexico, where the mercury reached 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius), homeless individuals faced particular vulnerability to the heat. AP photographer Gregory Bull captured the challenging conditions faced by people at the border who found little relief from the relentless sun.
- One year after the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, America’s significant response to climate change, Isabella O’Malley and Michael Phillis report on its positive impact. The act has accelerated the U.S. transition to renewable energy, fostered green domestic manufacturing, and made climate-friendly purchases, like solar panel installations, more affordable for consumers.
- The weather in Phoenix, USA, has reached such extreme heat levels that it poses significant challenges for those working in such conditions. AP photographer Matt York, with 23 years of experience in these conditions, experienced heat exhaustion, demonstrating the severity of the ongoing heatwave.
“The right to exercise our vote freely is stronger than the heat,” expressed Rosa Maria Valladolid-Prieto, a 79-year-old resident of Barcelona, as Spain conducted an early general election. Despite a month of heat waves, temperatures were anticipated to hover above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and rise significantly, between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius above the normal, in several regions of Spain on Sunday. In response, authorities took measures to distribute fans at numerous polling stations to alleviate the impact of the extreme heat on voters.
