Weather disasters across Europe. Most horrible events of last week.
Extreme weather has been causing a real natural disaster across Europe lately, and we're here to give you the scoop on what's been happening last week. From heavy rain and floods in Norway and Croatia to scorching hot temperatures in Spain and Portugal. It's been quite a wild ride. Here's the latest weather events.
Norway has been facing some serious challenges due to the relentless downpours. In the southeastern part of the country, rivers and lakes have been swelling up. Imagine rivers usually so calm now roaring with water, dragging along debris and broken trees. This deluge has flooded houses, turned cars into mud-covered messes, and even swamped camping sites. The town of Honefossen has been hit particularly hard, with the Begna river spilling over its banks. Already, around 2000 people had to leave their homes.
Sweden hasn't been spared from natural disaster either. The rain has been so intense that part of a railway embankment was washed away, causing a train carrying over 100 passengers to derail. Three people got hurt and had to be rushed to hospitals.
In Croatia, the Drava river has reached astonishing heights of 704 centimetres. Holiday homes along its banks have been swamped, and recent heavy rains made authorities declare a state of emergency in some parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Spain is sweating through its third big heatwave this summer. It's been so hot that the eastern city of Valencia reached a scorching 46 degrees Celsius. People are seeking refuge from the blistering sun by flocking to special shelters for the homeless, where they can find food, water, and a much-needed shower. The city center has been emptier than usual, as people seek relief on the beaches or in the countryside. Spain's meteorological agency has even warned that the country's average temperature might break a seven-decade record.
Over in Portugal, massive forest fires have been causing chaos. The wind and extreme heat have fueled these fires, which have torn through a whopping 15000 hectares of trees. Experts are pointing their fingers at climate change for these recurring heatwaves that seem to be getting more intense and lasting longer.
And speaking of an unusual natural disaster, Mount Etna in Sicily has erupted, spewing ash and lava high into the sky. This forced flights to be canceled and threw a wrench into the plans of many tourists.
Now, let's take a quick detour beyond Europe. Over in Hawaii, a blazing wildfire has turned deadly, claiming the lives of at least 93 people. This is being described as the worst natural disaster Hawaii has ever faced. The fire's origin remains a mystery, but the strong winds from Hurricane Dora and a low-pressure system near Japan have been fanning the flames across the state.
Moving to China's Shaanxi Province, heavy rain and mudslides have taken a toll, leaving 21 people dead and six still missing. The residents of a village had to leave their homes due to the dangerous conditions.
In a world where extreme weather events seem to be happening more frequently, it's clear that our climate is facing a crisis. These events remind us of the profound impact that weather can have on our lives, and they underscore the need to address the pressing challenges of our changing climate.
Chief forecaster and ideologist of the weather forecast service Pogodnik. Co-author of scientific articles and specialized content for various online media.
