Heatwave Alert in Spain, Elderly Urged to Take Extra Care: National Weather Office

Almost all of Spain faced an 'extreme', 'very high' or 'high' risk of forest blazes on Tuesday, June 30, 2015, disclosed the nation's weather office. Scorching temperatures have put 40 of the nation's 50 provinces on either 'yellow' or 'orange' alert. The country remained locked in a heat wave with a high alert for forest fires and the elderly urged to take extra care. The national weather office forecast a dip in the temperature on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, before rising again at the weekend. The highest temperatures were expected to be recorded in the central province of Toledo where the mercury was forecast to rise up to 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit). In the Spanish capital Madrid, temperatures were expected to soar to 39 degrees Celsius prompting local officials to recommend people to remain in the shade and drink plenty of liquids.

The regional government of Madrid said, "The excessive heat can harm people's health, especially if they are elderly, chronically ill or children. Emergency services have treated 30 people for heatstroke in the Madrid region since the heatwave began on Thursday."

Night-time temperatures in many cities remained well above 20 degrees Celsius. In Madrid night temperatures were forecast to remain at 26 degrees Celsius against an average of 16 degrees for this time of the year.

Source-AFP