Extreme weather: Temperatures of more than 40C persist in Europe and wildfires rage in Greece, as US braces for record heat
Temperatures across parts of Europe remain above 40C (104F) , as wildfires rage in Greece.
Winds near Athens have fuelled a major wildfire close to the Greek capital, forcing people from their homes and burning 13.5 square miles (35 square km) of forest and scrubland.
Authorities had declared the huge blaze contained overnight on Wednesday, but firefighters lost control of the fire when the wind picked up, officials said.
See the weather forecast where you are
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said “the hard times are clearly not over yet”, adding: “We are facing another heat wave and a possible strengthening of the winds… absolute vigilance and absolute readiness are required over the next few days.”
As well as around Athens, there are also evacuation orders on the island of Rhodes.
While temperatures are expected to cool slightly to the mid-30Cs on Friday, the Met Office predicts they will rise again to around 41C (105F) on Sunday.
Spain and Italy have also faced searing heat in recent days, with Murcia in southern Spain and the Italian island of Sicily both bearing the brunt of the 44C (111.2F) heat, with public warnings issued for children and older people.
Spanish news service EFE said a Moroccan man died in Murcia from heat-related problems on Thursday.
Temperatures in Spain will rise once more on Sunday, forecasters say, when a national election is taking place.
Meanwhile in the US, Arizona is bracing for temperatures of more than 48C (118.4F) – the 21st day in a row that heat has exceeded 43C (109.4F).
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Temperatures remain high in Europe
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Teams with the City of Phoenix Heat Response Program have been preparing heat relief kits, manning hydration stations and handing out water bottles to homeless people.
In California’s Death Valley, which is no stranger to high temperatures, a 71-year-old man collapsed and died earlier in the week, with rangers at the National Park reporting it was likely hotter than 50C (122F) in the valley itself.
Death Valley, the lowest point in the US, holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, at 56.7C (131.1F)
Temperatures are expected to hit 48.3C in Phoenix, Arizona. Pic: AP
Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth. Pic: AP
A third of the US is experiencing extreme weather, mostly focused across the south of the country.
The US National Weather service predicts the intense heat will last into next week before abating, with 80 million Americans likely to see temperatures above 40C.
In India, monsoons have killed more than 100 people in recent weeks, as well as triggering landslides and flooding.
Monsoon rains, which typically fall between June and September, have been 2% higher than normal, according to the country’s weather service.
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Meanwhile in the UK, a month’s-worth of rain is expected to fall in the space of 48 hours.
Forecasters say hilly areas of northern England and Northern Ireland, as well as southern areas of Scotland and Wales, could see up to 80mm of rain from Saturday.
A typical month’s rainfall in July in the UK is 88mm.
Storm Shadow cruise missiles made in the UK and donated to Ukraine have once again been used to strike targets inside Russia.
The long-range weapons – which cost roughly £2m each – have been used to devastating effect in the Black Sea, sinking or damaging several Russian ships, and now against a chemical plant.
Last year, Ukraine’s allies lifted restrictions on Storm Shadows and other long-range missiles, meaning Kyiv’s military can use them against targets across the border.
Follow latest: Storm Shadow missiles used in ‘massive’ attack on Russia
A Storm Shadow missile system. Pic: Gary Dawson/Shutterstock
What are Storm Shadow missiles?
Storm Shadows are cruise missiles developed by the UK and France in the 1990s.
Launched from aircraft, they have a range more than 155 miles, manufacturer MBDA says, and can travel at speeds exceeding 600mph.
The missiles can be used with high precision for deep strikes while evading detection, the manufacturer says.
They have been used by the RAF and French air force and in the Gulf, Iraq and Libya, and more recently have been used by Ukrainian forces.
What sets them apart from some other projectiles is they use terrain mapping to navigate to their target, rather than relying just on GPS, military analyst Sean Bell says.
A Tornado GR4 with Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Pic: Crown copyright
How have they been used in Ukraine?
Back in May 2023, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles – the first country to do so.
Since then they have been used by Kyiv’s defenders to strike Russian targets inside Ukraine and also inside Russia.
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While operational details of their use do not always emerge, it has been reported Storm Shadows have been used against targets including military headquarters and ships.
Storm Shadows can likely be operated entirely from within Ukraine, though probably with the assistance of intelligence gathered by Western surveillance planes over international waters.
A police officer has been injured after a night of violent protests outside an asylum hotel in Dublin – with six arrests made.
Bricks were thrown and fireworks were discharged outside the Citywest Hotel – with glass bottles used as missiles and a police van set on fire.
A Garda helicopter was also targeted with lasers, and the police service says some of those on the streets were seen carrying garden forks.
Pic: PA
Pic: PA
Commissioner Justin Kelly added: “This was obviously not a peaceful protest. The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence.
“We will now begin the process of identifying those who committed crimes and we will bring those involved in this violence to justice.”
It is the second night of demonstrations after an alleged sexual assault in its vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.
Some of the crowd threw stones and other missiles at the public order officers as they moved the protesters back – and water cannon was deployed at the scene.
A line of officers was preventing the protesters from approaching the hotel.
Police officers block protesters outside the hotel. Pic: PA
‘Those involved will be brought to justice’
Ireland’s premier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, paid tribute to the officers who were on the frontline of the protests.
“There can be no justification for the vile abuse against them, or the attempted assaults and attacks on members of the force that will shock all right-thinking people,” he said.
Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said those involved in the violence will be brought to justice.
“The scenes of public disorder we have witnessed at Citywest must be condemned,” he said.
“People threw missiles at Gardai, threw fireworks at them and set a Garda vehicle on fire.
“This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the Gardai.
“Those involved will be brought to justice.”
‘No excuse’ for violence
The minister said a man had been arrested and had appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault in the vicinity of the hotel.
He added: “While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.”
He said attacks on officers would “not be tolerated”, adding: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.
“There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed.”
The demonstration on Monday night passed without a significant incident.
It comes two years after anti-immigrant demonstrators triggered a major riot in the centre of Dublin after three young children were stabbed.
A police van has been set on fire and missiles have been thrown at officers as protesters gathered outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Dublin.
It is the second night of demonstrations outside the Citywest Hotel after an alleged sexual assault in its vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.
A large crowd has gathered in the area and members of the Garda’s public order unit have been deployed.
Footage from the scene showed a Garda vehicle on fire as well as several protesters displaying Irish flags.
Many protesters carried Republic of Ireland flags
Some of the crowd threw stones and other missiles at the public order officers as they moved the protesters back.
A Garda helicopter hovered overhead and a water cannon was deployed on the scene.
Ireland’s justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, said those involved will be brought to justice.
“The scenes of public disorder we have witnessed at Citywest tonight must be condemned,” he said.
“People threw missiles at Gardai, threw fireworks at them and set a Garda vehicle on fire.
“This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the Gardai.
“Those involved will be brought to justice.”
The minister said a man had been arrested and had appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault in the vicinity of the hotel.
He added: “While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.
He said attacks on gardai will “not be tolerated”, adding: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.
“There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed tonight.”
It was the second night of protest outside the hotel, which is being used as state accommodation for people seeking international protection. The demonstration on Monday night passed without a significant incident.
It comes two years after anti-immigrant demonstrators triggered a major riot in the centre of Dublin after three young children were stabbed.
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