The second wave of heat stifles all over Europe | Chronic

Belgium, Italy, France and Luxembourg were the most affected countries this Wednesday by the second heat wave that is suffocating Europe this summer, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees and which should Step up on Thursday.

The Royal Institute of Meteorology of Brussels has decreed – for the first time in Belgian history – a red alert to heat, which comes to add to the lack of rain in a region accustomed to constant rainfall , who predicts a drought "rather important", as detailed by the agency.

The maximum temperatures reached Wednesday at 39 degrees, exceeding the previous record of 36.6 set in June 1947.

Italy also had five cities on red alert – Bolzano, Brescia, Florence, Perugia and Turin – although tomorrow will be even worse because thirteen more will be added – including Rome, Bologna, Genoa, Trieste, Pescara and Verona – for temperatures reaching a maximum of between 38 and 40 degrees, according to the EFE agency.

A drop in temperature accompanied by rain is expected for Saturday, as citizens and tourists drink water, eat ice creams and endure the temptation to bathe in the monumental fountains.

In France, the meteorological service has put red alert 20 of a hundred departments – including the Paris region – never reached before, with 60 others in orange alert and temperatures exceeding 42 degrees.

Heat and ozone pollution have imposed traffic restrictions in the Paris, Lyons and Lille conglomerations, which will be extended to Strasbourg tomorrow, while they predict temperatures above 40 degrees in the capital city and France. northwestern France.

In the case of Luxembourg, it is the southern part of the country that is most affected by high temperatures, with more than 40 degrees.

The German Meteorological Service also plans to exceed the record highs of 2015, with thermometric increases of more than 41 degrees in areas such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland and Bavaria.

The UK is not spared either from the worst heat wave for nearly 16 years, with temperatures forecast for tomorrow's 38 degrees or more, according to its weather service.

In the absence of sources such as in Rome, some Londoners chose to swim in the Thames, which had tragic consequences since three people disappeared in different sections of the river after being seen entering the waters on Tuesday. -midday.

Although temperatures in Spain are also high, the country does not technically suffer from a heat wave, the meteorological authorities said.

A recent report from the Spanish Meteorological Agency (Aemet) noted that heat waves are ten times more common now than at the beginning of the 21st century.