Enlarge image
A public thermometer in the center of Seville shows a temperature of 49 degrees on June 17th
Photo: Angel Garcia / dpa
Seville introduces a novel system for classifying heat waves.
As part of this, the hot days are given names - in reverse alphabetical order.
The first five are already set: Zoe, Yago, Xenia, Wenceslao and Vega.
Heat waves in Seville will be divided into three categories in the future.
The mayor of Seville, Antonio Munoz, said the population should be made aware of a heat event up to five days in advance.
The city wants to associate meteorological forecasts with health effects.
Seville is the first city in the world to take this step.
The project was conducted in partnership with the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation's Resilience Center, which develops solutions to climate risks.
"This new method aims to raise awareness of the deadly effects of climate change and ultimately save lives," said director Kathy Baughman McLeod.
Andalusian Seville is one of the hottest places in Spain, with temperatures easily exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in summer.
Many fear that heat waves and droughts will become more frequent there in the future.
Several forest fires have broken out in Spain in recent weeks.
Cities like Seville saw their earliest heatwave in more than 40 years.
kfr/Reuters
