RHODES/ALGIERS: Large areas of the Mediterranean sweltered under an intense summer heatwave on Tuesday (Jul 25) and firefighters battled to put out blazes across the region. In Algeria, at least 34 people have died. In Croatia, flames came within 12km of the medieval town of Dubrovnik late on Tuesday.
RHODES/ALGIERS: Large areas of the Mediterranean sweltered under an intense summer heatwave on Tuesday and firefighters battled to put out blazes across the region.
Italy suffered a twin pounding from the elements when severe storms battered the north, killing a woman and a 16-year-old girl scout, while southern regions sweltered. In the south, a bedridden 98-year-old man died when fire swept through his home.In the US, the ocean waters around South Florida soared to typical hot-tub levels this week, according to government data. A weather buoy in the waters of Manatee Bay recorded a high of 38.
The heat, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius, is well in excess of what usually attracts tourists who flock to southern European beaches. In North Africa, Algeria was fighting to contain devastating forest fires along its Mediterranean coast in a blaze which has already killed at least 34 people. Fanned by strong winds, fires also forced the closure of two border crossings with neighbouring Tunisia.
The fires will deal a blow to the tourist industry which is a mainstay of the Greek economy. It accounts for 18 per cent of gross domestic product and one in five jobs, with an even greater contribution on islands such as Rhodes. Research published this month said as many as 61,000 people may have died in Europe's sweltering heatwaves last summer, suggesting preparedness efforts are falling fatally short.
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