Both in the Netherlands and in Southern Europe, the heat claimed several lives on Tuesday. Various countries are plagued by wildfires and many schools remained closed. Numerous heat records were broken and the temperature exceeded 40 degrees in many areas.
That was not the case in the Netherlands, but we were not far from it. It was the warmest July 1st at all weather stations in the country since the start of measurements.
The first regional heat wave was in Eindhoven, where the temperature rose to 37.6 degrees today.
Many people sought refreshment by taking a dip in natural water. That did not remain without consequences. For example, a man died after swimming in the Waal near Zaltbommel. According to bystanders, the man disappeared under water around 3:15 PM. Fire brigade divers found his body around 4:00 PM.
Men who had died were also taken from the water in the De Put recreation pond in Vianen and in the Leuvehaven in Rotterdam. Nothing is yet known about the causes of death and the identity of the victims.
In Amersfoort, things ended well twice. At the beginning of the afternoon, the police rescued a baby from a closed car by smashing a window. The owner of the car had reported it to the police himself, because the door had locked while the key was still in the ignition. The baby is doing well.
A dog also had to be rescued from a hot car in the city. The animal had been left behind by its owner while he went to a casino. When the police arrived, the man refused to cooperate and became verbally aggressive. The dog was eventually taken out of the car by its owner himself.
Furthermore, two people became unwell during the National Commemoration of the Slavery Past in Amsterdam’s Oosterpark. Because of the heat, bottles of water and white umbrellas were handed out.
Toddler forgotten in car in Spain
In Southern Europe, the heat has also claimed several lives. For example, a toddler died in Spain after being forgotten in a car by his father. The temperature in the car presumably rose to above 50 degrees.
The father brought the boy to a room with air conditioning to resuscitate him, but that was to no avail.
In Italy, at least two people died. In Bologna, Italy, a 47-year-old man became unwell due to the heat and in Bardonecchia in the northeast, a 70-year-old man drowned due to flooding after severe weather.
Code red in France, almost two thousand schools closed
Code red was in effect in seventeen French regions today. 1,896 schools closed their doors after lunchtime due to the heat. The top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris was also closed to visitors. The temperature was 38 degrees in, among other places, the capital, Tours and Bourges. In Durban-Corbières the temperature rose to 41 degrees.
As far as is known, there have been no fatalities in Turkey due to the heat. However, the country is plagued by wildfires. In the western province of Izmir, rescuers have already evacuated more than 50,000 people, writes news agency Reuters.
Rescuers are also busy extinguishing wildfires in parts of the provinces of Bilecik, Hatay, Sakarya and Manisa. In total, there are 263 fires throughout the country. 46 people were injured. They are being treated in hospital.
Wildfires also occur in the Scottish Highlands, Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Portugal. The Netherlands has not been spared either. Nature fires raged in Oss in North Brabant and in Heerde, on the Veluwe.