- Title: ITALY/GREECE: Temperatures soar in southern Europe
- Date: 27th June 2007
- Summary: GREEK NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE, VARIOUS OF METOROLOGISTS WORKING ON WEATHER FORECAST DATA CHART SHOWING DEGREE OF HEAT IN ZONES BY COLOUR IN GREECE METEOROLOGIST CHRISOULA PETROU LOOKING AT CHART OF TEMPERATURES IN EUROPE CHART OF EUROPE SHOWING HOTTEST ZONES BY COLOUR (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) METEOROLOGIST CHRISOULA PETROU OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, SAYING: "We ar
- Embargoed: 12th July 2007 13:00
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- Topics: Weather
- Reuters ID: LVA2MOHN98H1MN54I677O2H8WVQZ
- Story Text: Britain may be recovering after floods but in southern Europe temperatures have soared way above the norm. In Italy, meteorologists predict the temperature should drop by mid-week but in Greece the death toll from the sweltering heatwave has risen to five. Italy has been sizzling under a heatwave over the last few days with record temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius in Sicily but by mid-week meteorologists are predicting a drop in temperature allowing people a bit of time to cool down.
Much of the country on Tuesday (June 26) was hit by a muggy, humid heat with the sun covered by rain-threatening clouds. At the beach in Riccione on the Adriatic coast few people needed to cool down in the sea but they were certainly making the most of the dry weather especially as rain has been predicted as early as Wednesday (June 27).
"All over the world the weather is very chaotic," said Ilse Tanner, an Austrian tourist who has been coming to Riccione every summer for 38 years, adding she is tired of talking about weather change.
"I love the heat. Let's not always concentrate on the negative aspects of it," said holidaymaker Annamaria Cecconi.
Certainly on the beach it is easier to live with the North African winds that have brought the high temperatures to Italy and the holidaymakers wouldn't mind having a bit more of it.
"As long as I'm on holidays all is fine," said Giorgio Capucci, on holiday from Milan.
"Today it is cloudy, yesterday I got sunburnt but as long as I'm on holidays I'm happy with any kind of weather," he said.
Weather experts say the temperature gauge should only drop by a couple of degrees over the next few days and warn that humidity levels may remain high.
Meanwhile in Greece, temperatures reached a stifling 46 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, levels not seen during the same period for the last twenty five years.
"We are experiencing an extreme weather period, in terms of its duration, intensity, and extremely high temperatures, and it is still not over yet," said meteorologist Chrisoula Petrou from the National Meteorological Service.
Petrou said such high temperatures for the month of June have not been seen since 1982, and then the temperatures reached only about 42 degrees Celsius and were brief, not having the same duration in days.
Greek authorities, emergency services and hospitals, police, and the fire brigade across the country were on high alert during the hottest day of the week-long heatwave.
Five people were reported to have died, including a 17-year-old girl. All were suffering from other conditions that were exacerbated by the heat.
Major cities such as Athens slowly emptied as residents and tourists sought refuge on the beaches and other heeded advisories to stay indoors.
"I don't go out very much during the day. I drink alot of liquids, water and juices, otherwise I wouldn't be able to bear it," said Greek resident Vangelis.
"We have probably had at least five bottles of water each today if not more, we keep filling them up. That's about it, there's not more you can do," said American tourist Rosa Caponi.
Energy consumption from the use of air conditioning systems reached an all time high and brief power cuts were reported in Athens.
Around 100 ambulances were on alert in Athens, dozens of fires were also reported in the country but firefighters said they were all under control. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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