The United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and France are facing temperatures exceeding 40 degrees, and in some nations reaching historic records.
According to scientists, rising temperatures are a direct consequence of the climate crisis, as greenhouse gas emissions increase in intensity, duration, and frequency. And the outlook is even more dire for the economy: nearly half of the European Union's territory is currently at risk of drought due to prolonged lack of rainfall.
Also, several forest fires have been recorded that have consumed numerous hectares, and the number of people who have died from this event is increasing.
In Spain, there is a record of 510 deaths, of which 486 were over 65 years old according to data from the Carlos III Health Institute, while in Portugal, the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) reported that between July 7 and 18 the number of deaths reached 1,063 people.
This heat wave has spread to different continents, and the United States is feeling its impact. The country's National Weather Prediction Center forecast that: "Dangerous heat will continue to affect a large part of the U.S. this week, with more than 100 million people now under excessive heat warnings or heat advisories."«
More than two dozen record high temperatures are expected between Tuesday and Wednesday across the southern United States, including Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and the East Coast. The oppressive heat has strained Texas's power grid, and the state anticipates days of record energy demand.
Finally, despite ample evidence and scientific consensus, many still don't believe in climate change. However, the data doesn't lie: global heat records are being far surpassed. For its part, the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday called for a "raising of awareness" among world leaders regarding heat waves like the one currently affecting Western Europe, which will become increasingly frequent due to climate change.
News report based on information from: CNN and EFE.