By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda Updated at 1409EAT on Tuesday 1 July 2025

Portugal is ramping up its wildfire prevention and response systems as high temperatures raise the threat of rural fires across much of the country.

According to local media reports, more than 80 municipalities across 10 districts are now classified at the highest risk level for wildfires, based on data from the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera IPMA).

The districts under red alert include Vila Real, Braga, Bragança, Porto, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Portalegre, and Faro.

Temperatures are expected to vary widely, with forecast highs ranging from 24°C in the coastal city of Aveiro to a sweltering 43°C in Beja, in southern Portugal.

In Italy, extreme weather has turned deadly, with a 47-year-old man dying in Bologna after collapsing at a construction site during intense heat.

The incident has prompted Italian trade unions Cgil Bologna and Fillea-Cgil to renew calls for urgent measures to protect outdoor workers from rising heat risks.

“The climate emergency has clearly worsened the conditions of those who work outside every day,” the unions said in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, in Bardonecchia a tourist resort west of Turin a 70-year-old man drowned after being swept away by flash floods. According to local media, the victim had exited his vehicle shortly before being caught in rapidly rising waters.

The first images of the day are beginning to emerge as temperatures climb across the UK and mainland Europe.

In several European cities, authorities are rolling out emergency measures to cool urban areas including misting stations, shaded zones, and water distribution points in an effort to protect vulnerable populations.

At Wimbledon, spectators are already seeking shade and using umbrellas, hats, and towels to shield themselves from the intense sun on day two of the tournament.

In Paris, transport operator RATP is distributing bottled water to metro passengers as temperatures reach their peak across the Île-de-France region.

“People in the Île-de-France region are traveling and it’s hot, so we think it’s important,” Isabelle Ruault, head of customer experience for the RER metro, told French broadcaster BFMTV.

RATP plans to distribute around 30,000 bottles of water across the metro network, while 90 water fountains have been made available for passengers to stay cool and hydrated.

The French capital is under red alert for extreme heat today, prompting the closure of the Eiffel Tower and widespread public safety measures as the heatwave continues to grip much of Europe.

France’s national weather agency, Météo France, has placed 16 regions under red heatwave alert the highest level. Affected areas include Paris and its surrounding departments: Val-d’Oise, Yvelines, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-et-Marne, and Essonne. Other regions under alert include Aude, Yonne, Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Cher, Indre-et-Loire, Indre, and Vienne.

The extreme temperatures have also forced France’s education ministry to partially or fully close around 1,350 public schools today in the hardest-hit areas.

Hot weather is set to continue across the south-east of England on Tuesday, with temperatures expected to rise above 30°C once again. Forecasters say the UK could see its hottest day of the year so far, with highs potentially reaching 34°C or even 35°C.

While the heat will linger across parts of the eastern and south-eastern Midlands, conditions elsewhere in the UK are expected to be cooler and cloudier.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its amber heat health alerts for much of England into Wednesday morning. The alert extension means pressure on services such as the NHS and public transport is likely to continue.

By Wednesday, the heatwave affecting the UK is expected to come to an end, with temperatures in the south-east dropping to the mid-20s more typical for early July.

In addition to the cooler conditions, forecasters predict heavy showers in parts of the far south-east of England, north-east England, and eastern Scotland.

Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg are experiencing temperatures 12 to 16°C above the seasonal average today and tomorrow, as an intense heatwave continues to grip much of Europe.

In France, red warnings the highest alert level are in place for Paris and the Val de Loire, where temperatures could reach up to 41°C. French authorities have issued broad public warnings, stressing that the extreme heat poses a risk to everyone, including those in good health.

Red heat alerts have also been issued for Brussels, parts of western Germany, and Croatia. In Switzerland, the sweltering conditions are expected to trigger violent thunderstorms, with red warnings in effect there as well.

Much of southern Europe is covered by yellow and amber alerts, with the heat expected to ease considerably in northern regions by Thursday. Both Paris and Brussels are forecast to see a drop of around 10°C between Wednesday and Thursday.

Experts say such heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting due to human-induced climate change.

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