An intense heatwave ravaging much of Europe led to a partial ban on alcohol consumption in France, countrywide alerts in Germany and the closure of a football fan zone in Spain as temperatures rose to record levels.
France expected 35 of its 96 departments or regions to declare red heat wave alerts on Sunday, with temperatures between 39 and 40 degrees Celsius predicted from the southwest through the Paris region to Burgundy, with some areas possibly reaching 41C.
Following a crisis meeting, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu preemptively banned the alcohol consumption on Sunday at the annual Fête de la Musique festivals and at other public events to be held in these 35 regions on Sunday. Paris authorities ordered, however, that parks remain open 24 hours a day.
Heat warnings have been declared across most of Germany, with temperatures approaching 38°C. The DWD weather service warned that the combination of heat and humidity could trigger severe thunderstorms.
COOLING UNDER A ROMAN TEMPLE
Beyond the Alps, temperatures, expected to reach 36–37°C, were transforming daily life and tourism in some Italian cities.
Visitors queued in the scorching sun outside the Colosseum as the Roman summer heat turned sightseeing into a test of endurance. Some sought relief in the cooler underground spaces, beneath the half-hidden ruins of the Temple of Claudius.
In the city of Bologna, in the north of the country — one of the hottest on the peninsula — people splashed water on their faces in the 16th-century Neptune Fountain and took shelter in the shade of the porticos.
But in Spain, the football federation decided to close the fans area it had set up with big screens in Plaza de Colon in Madrid, which means that fans will have to watch Spain’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in another location. Ironically, the teams themselves will enjoy the benefits of an air-conditioned stadium in Atlanta, powered in part by solar panels.
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Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense across Europe, increasing the risk of health emergencies and economic disruption during the summer months.
The economic impact of extreme heat is also drawing attention.
Bank of France President Emmanuel Moulin said the short-term effects on growth were ‘somewhat ambiguous’, citing both reduced productivity and increased energy consumption, but warned that in the medium term, heatwaves weigh on economic activity.
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