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Bathers in the Atlantic near Biarritz: In the southern French city, temperatures rose to 42.9 degrees
Photo:
Bob Edme/AP
Large parts of Europe have been hit by a heat wave that is unusual for the time of year.
In Germany, the peak value of 36.4 degrees was measured in Waghäusel-Kirrlach on the Upper Rhine until 4 p.m., as reported by the German Weather Service (DWD).
Several local temperature records were broken in France - peaking at 42.9 degrees in Biarritz.
Forest fires have already destroyed thousands of hectares of forest in Spain.
In France, the weather service Météo France spoke of the earliest heat wave since 1947. New temperature records for the month of June were set in eleven areas.
42.9 degrees were measured in Biarritz, southwestern France.
Several festivals, sporting and cultural events have been canceled across the country.
In Spain, which is also affected by the unusual heat, wildfires have been devastating thousands of hectares of land for days.
Up to 20,000 hectares were affected in the Sierra de la Culebra in the northwest.
14 towns were evacuated as a precaution.
In several other regions, emergency services fought other fires.
Temperatures of up to 43 degrees were expected in north-eastern Zaragoza.
According to »Kachelmannwetter«, 43.5 degrees were even reached in San Sebastian.
In the Netherlands, the weather service issued a warning for the southern city of Limburg, where temperatures could rise to 35 degrees.
In the UK, authorities set new seasonal temperature records for the third straight day.
In northern Italy, the Po Valley is suffering its worst drought in 70 years, with some communities rationing water distribution.
According to the Coldiretti agricultural association, half of the cultivated land there is threatened.
In Germany, too, it was very hot in places on Saturday.
According to the DWD, values of around 35 degrees were measured in a wide strip from southwest Germany to eastern Saxony.
With the exception of the coastal regions and higher-altitude areas as well as in the south-east of Bavaria, the temperatures rose well above the 30-degree mark over the course of the day.
In stark contrast, it stayed at 20.2 degrees in Erfde in Schleswig-Holstein.
High temperatures are also expected on Sunday
According to the meteorologists, it should be very hot again on Sunday.
UV radiation will also reach high values again.
A large forest fire near Frohnsdorf in Brandenburg south of Berlin was contained.
Open fires can no longer be seen on drone images, the RBB broadcaster quoted information from the fire brigade on Saturday afternoon.
In the meantime, around 60 hectares had been on fire between Treuenbrietzen in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district and Jüterborg.
According to scientists, the increase in heat waves and droughts is a direct result of global warming.
The intensity as well as the duration and frequency of these phenomena are increasing.
sol/AFP