Brits cancelling their holiday plans as intense European heatwave causes chaos

Where the hottest temperature recorded in Europe is believed to be 48.8C in Sicily in August 2021, forecasts in Sardinia are tipping the mercury to rise to 46C or higher.

Italian authorities have issued red alerts in 16 cities, after a 44-year-old man lost consciousness while painting a zebra crossing in the northern town of Lodi, later passing away in hospital.

Italy is not alone in its reaction, with government’s across Europe scrambling to issue health advice and bolster emergency services.

As southern Spain also braces for temperatures up to 46C, a special telephone line was set up in the southern region of Andalusia which has already received thousands of calls.

Meanwhile, temperatures are set to peak at 40C in southern France, while the Western Balkans also faces high temperatures.

Authorities in Serbia have placed the entire country on the highest level of alert, while North Macedonia has put emergency measures in place for the next seven days.

In Croatia, several fires have broken out as an orange alert has been placed on much of the country, with Split receiving a red alert on Tuesday.

Thousands of residents and tourists including Brits have been evacuated from the Canaries as a forest fire continues to burn out of control on the Spanish island of La Palma.

Officials say 4,255 people have so far been evacuated and 4,500 hectares (11,100 acres) of land has been consumed by the wildfire.

Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands, said there is some "resistance to abandoning the houses," but emphasised that the priority was saving lives.

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On the reasoning for the wildfire’s rapid spread, Clavijo pointed to “the wind, the climate conditions as well as the heatwave that we are living through."

The fire started early on Saturday morning in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area towards the north of the island in the Canaries, before spreading south towards the settlement of Tijarafe.

In the US, Death Valley in California is approaching its highest-ever temperature as it hit 53.9C on Sunday, just shy of the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth of 56.7C.

China recorded its highest ever temperature on Sunday, seeing 52.2C in Xinjang, the UK Met Office reports.

The Association of British Travel Agents said there has been minimal disruption to flights and holiday packages, but encouraged Brits to stay hydrated, apply sun cream, and avoid the hottest midday sun.

Paola Deitan, a 29-year-old from Wiltshire, was planning to travel with her best friend to Greece but has now opted for Barcelona, the Observer reported.

She said: "I am worried about my health. I don't want anything to happen to me while on holiday."

Justine Rush, who is currently in Corfu with her husband, says she has had to cancel plans.

The 53-year-old said: “It’s properly hot – too hot to go outside in the day, except when you’re in the sea. We’ve had to stay in our room most of the day.

“I don’t normally like to be on the beach all day, but we can’t do anything else. We’ve had to cancel plans to go on a day trip to a nearby town."