Europe Heatwave Kills Two in Italy as Wildfires Rage and Records Tumble Across Continent

With temperatures breaching 46°C in parts of Spain and Portugal, and thousands evacuated in Turkey due to wildfires, the Europe heatwave continues to endanger lives, disrupt travel, and highlight the growing climate emergency

Updated: July 1, 2025-Two people have died in Italy as the Europe heatwave continues to scorch large parts of the continent, bringing record-breaking temperatures, mass evacuations, and growing environmental stress.

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A 47-year-old man collapsed and died at a construction site in Bologna, while a 70-year-old drowned during flash flooding at a resort near Turin. Meanwhile, Italy has placed 21 cities, including Rome, Milan, and Venice, under the highest heat alert.

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Across Europe, the heat has triggered wildfires, school closures, and travel disruptions, while prompting fresh warnings from climate experts.

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🔥 Wildfires Displace Thousands in Turkey

In Turkey, more than 50,000 people were evacuated from the western province of Izmir, as hundreds of wildfires engulfed towns and forests. The fires also affected Bilecik, Hatay, Sakarya, and Manisa. The country’s Forestry Minister confirmed emergency crews tackled 263 fires in three days.

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🌡️ Record-Breaking Heat Across Spain, Portugal and France

• Spain recorded 46°C in El Granado — its highest-ever June temperature.

• Portugal hit 46.6°C in Mora, 60 miles east of Lisbon — likely a national June record.

• France saw its hottest night and day for June in multiple regions. Paris and 15 other areas are under red alert, and 1,350 schools have been shut.

The top of the Eiffel Tower has been closed on July 1 and 2 due to the extreme heat.

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🏥 Hospitals, Worksites and Schools Affected

In Italy, Tuscany has reported a 20% rise in hospital admissions. The region of Lombardy has banned outdoor work from 12:30 to 4:00 PM on construction sites and farms until September.

Greece is battling wildfires near Athens, with temperatures near 40°C for days.

In Germany, authorities warned that temperatures could reach 38°C, straining infrastructure and reducing shipping on the Rhine River.

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🌍 Climate Emergency and Environmental Stress

The ongoing Europe heatwave is not just a human health threat. Warmer seas in the Adriatic are aiding invasive species like the poisonous lionfish, and glaciers in the Alps are shrinking at record rates.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said the extreme heat shows why climate adaptation and abandoning fossil fuels are essential.

“Rising temperatures, seas, floods, and wildfires threaten our rights to life and health,” he told the UN Human Rights Council.

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🔬 Scientists: Heatwaves Now More Frequent and Severe

According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), such extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-caused global warming.

Prof. Richard Allan of the University of Reading warned that higher greenhouse gas levels are drying out soils, which intensifies heatwaves.

“Moderate heat events are now becoming extreme,” he noted.

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⚠️ Global Impact, Local Consequences

From wildfires in Montenegro and Turkey to boiling nights in Barcelona and Seville, the Europe heatwave is causing chaos and concern. In the UK, Wimbledon recorded its hottest-ever opening day at 32.9°C, while Heathrow Airport hit 33.1°C.

The message from scientists and global institutions is clear: without urgent climate action, heatwaves like this will become the norm — not the exception.

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Tags: Europe heatwave, Italy heatwave deaths, wildfires in Turkey, climate change, record temperatures, UN climate warning, Eiffel Tower closed, Spain heatwave, Portugal temperature record