European heatwave leaves tourists in dire straits

Soaring temperatures in Europe have forced many tourists to cancel their travel plans or adjust their itineraries.

Faced with forecasts of temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius or higher in the coming days at many European destinations, a 61-year-old tourist from London, England, said she was “on the cruise ship the entire time around the Mediterranean.” She and her son had booked a tour to visit several European destinations before his son left for college. But the hot weather forced them to cancel their plans to visit cities when the ship docked.

"It's too hot to do anything," the woman said.

A tourist stands under a fountain to cool off in the heat in Greece. Photo: AP

Paola Deitan, 29, from Wiltshire, England, said she had planned to go to Greece with her best friend, but things have changed. They will now go to a more temperate climate like Barcelona, Spain. "I'm worried about my health and I don't want anything to happen while I'm on holiday," Deitan said, explaining why she canceled her trip to Greece.

The Acropolis, Athens' top tourist attraction, has been closed for three consecutive days since 15 July during the hottest hours of the day. Several parks in the capital have also taken similar measures. The culture ministry said the closure from midday to early evening at the Acropolis was to "protect citizens and visitors" as the country faces an "unprecedented" heatwave.

"It's too hot to go out during the day, except for the beach. We're stuck in our rooms most of the day," said Justine Rush, 53, who is in Corfu, Greece, with her husband and children. The hot weather also forced the family to cancel plans to visit a nearby town for the day.

A heat wave swept across the world over the weekend, threatening to shatter temperature records and highlighting the growing threat of global warming. Forecasts for historic heatwaves have been sweeping not only Europe but also Asia and the United States.

A volunteer from the emergency medical service in Greece gives free water to visitors to the Acropolis on July 14. Photo: Reuters — A volunteer from the emergency medical service in Greece gives free water to visitors to the Acropolis on July 14. Photo: *Reuters*

In Italy, people are being advised to "prepare for the most intense heatwave of the summer and one of the most severe heatwaves of all time." The country's Ministry of Health has issued a red alert for 16 cities, including popular tourist destinations such as Rome, Bologna and Florence. Temperatures in Rome could reach 40 degrees Celsius today and rise another 2-3 degrees tomorrow, breaking the record of 40.5 degrees Celsius set in August 2007. Sicily and Sardinia could see temperatures of up to 48 degrees Celsius - the highest ever recorded on the continent, according to the European Space Agency. The Italian Meteorological Agency has named the current heatwave after Cerberus, the monster that guards the gates of hell in Greek mythology.

Spain, France, Poland and Germany have also been hit by extreme heat this summer, with afternoon temperatures above historical averages each week. In Spain, zookeepers at the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid in Madrid came up with ways to help animals cool down in the extreme heat last week. Bears were fed watermelon popsicles, seals ate frozen sardines and lions devoured iced meat boxes.

Anh Minh (According to Guardian, AP )

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