TIRANA/BUDAPEST: Albanian emergency services battled a wildfire in the southern region of Mallakaster, while Hungarians cut power consumption as a heatwave and drought continued to grip large parts of southern and eastern Europe.
Europe, the world’s fastest warming continent, has been ravaged by record-breaking heat and destructive wildfires this summer, with France and Spain particularly hard hit.
The focus of the heatwave has shifted, with Italy placing most of its major cities under a red heat alert as temperatures climbed to around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas.
The heat prompted the Vatican to move Pope Leo’s first weekly general audience after the July break indoors rather than hold it in St. Peter’s Square. Visitors to Rome welcomed the decision as they sought relief from the sweltering conditions.
“I suppose it’s better to hold it indoors because of the heat,” a tourist from Mexico, Diego Amaya, said.
