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| European heatwave: Spain battles major Catalonia wildfire | European heatwave: Spain battles major Catalonia wildfire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires in Spain's Catalonia region, as temperatures soared to 40C (104F) and above across parts of Europe. | |
| Officials say the fires are the worst in the region for 20 years and may spread rapidly. | Officials say the fires are the worst in the region for 20 years and may spread rapidly. |
| Much of Europe is experiencing extreme heat. Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic have all recorded their highest ever June temperatures. | |
| Meteorologists say hot air drawn in from northern Africa is responsible. | Meteorologists say hot air drawn in from northern Africa is responsible. |
| The heat is expected to rise further in many countries over the next three days, meteorologists warn. | The heat is expected to rise further in many countries over the next three days, meteorologists warn. |
| By mid-afternoon temperatures had reached 39C in Turin in Italy and 41C in the Spanish city of Zaragoza. | |
| Grospierres in southern France recorded a high of 42.3C on Thursday afternoon - a national June record. | |
| The ski resort of Val D'Isere - which sits at 1,850m altitude - experienced its highest temperature ever recorded with 29.2C. | |
| What is happening in Catalonia? | What is happening in Catalonia? |
| At least 6,500 hectares (16,000 acres) are affected by the wildfires, near the town of La Torre de l'Espanyol, 80km from the coastal city of Tarragona. | |
| Officials said that in the intense heat the area of the fire could increase to 20,000ha. | Officials said that in the intense heat the area of the fire could increase to 20,000ha. |
| At least 45 people have been evacuated and five roads have been closed. There have been no reports of casualties. | |
| Regional interior minister Miquel Buch told Catalan radio the fire might have been caused by "an accumulation of manure in a farm that generated enough heat to explode and generate sparks". | Regional interior minister Miquel Buch told Catalan radio the fire might have been caused by "an accumulation of manure in a farm that generated enough heat to explode and generate sparks". |
| In total, 11 provinces in the east and centre of Spain have experienced or are set to experience temperatures above 40C. In parts of the north-east, they may reach 45C. | In total, 11 provinces in the east and centre of Spain have experienced or are set to experience temperatures above 40C. In parts of the north-east, they may reach 45C. |
| What about elsewhere in southwestern Europe? | What about elsewhere in southwestern Europe? |
| Temperatures are expected to top 40C in Italy too, particularly in central and northern regions. Several cities, including Rome, have issued the highest heat warnings. | Temperatures are expected to top 40C in Italy too, particularly in central and northern regions. Several cities, including Rome, have issued the highest heat warnings. |
| On Thursday morning the body of a 72-year-old homeless Romanian man was found near Milan's central train station. Officials say the heat may have been a factor in his death. | On Thursday morning the body of a 72-year-old homeless Romanian man was found near Milan's central train station. Officials say the heat may have been a factor in his death. |
| Philip Trackfield, a British tourist in Rome, told the BBC: "Last night at the Spanish steps it was 41C. It's exhausting when you're trying to do all the sights." | Philip Trackfield, a British tourist in Rome, told the BBC: "Last night at the Spanish steps it was 41C. It's exhausting when you're trying to do all the sights." |
| Meanwhile the whole of France - where a heatwave in 2003 was blamed for 15,000 deaths - is now on orange alert, the second-highest warning level. | Meanwhile the whole of France - where a heatwave in 2003 was blamed for 15,000 deaths - is now on orange alert, the second-highest warning level. |
| In Paris, fountains and sprinklers connected to hydrants have been set up. Some schools have delayed important exams and even closed. | In Paris, fountains and sprinklers connected to hydrants have been set up. Some schools have delayed important exams and even closed. |
| In Toulouse, where temperatures are expected to reach 41C on Thursday, charities have been handing out water to homeless people. | In Toulouse, where temperatures are expected to reach 41C on Thursday, charities have been handing out water to homeless people. |
| How hot was Wednesday? | How hot was Wednesday? |
| Temperatures have been climbing in recent days. On Wednesday, Coschen in Brandenburg peaked at 38.6C - a new German record for June. | Temperatures have been climbing in recent days. On Wednesday, Coschen in Brandenburg peaked at 38.6C - a new German record for June. |
| Radzyn in Poland and Doksany in the Czech Republic also recorded new national highs, with temperatures hitting 38.2C and 38.9C respectively. | Radzyn in Poland and Doksany in the Czech Republic also recorded new national highs, with temperatures hitting 38.2C and 38.9C respectively. |
| Even in the high-altitude Alps, temperatures topped 30C in places. Parts of Austria recorded their local all-time highest temperatures on Wednesday. | Even in the high-altitude Alps, temperatures topped 30C in places. Parts of Austria recorded their local all-time highest temperatures on Wednesday. |
| While the UK will avoid the worst of the heat, parts of the country - including London - are expected to see temperatures top 30C on Saturday. | While the UK will avoid the worst of the heat, parts of the country - including London - are expected to see temperatures top 30C on Saturday. |
| Is climate change to blame? | Is climate change to blame? |
| Linking a single event to global warming is complicated. | Linking a single event to global warming is complicated. |
| While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, experts say these will happen more often because of climate change. | While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, experts say these will happen more often because of climate change. |
| Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. | Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. |
| A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. | A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. |
| Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to human use of fossil fuel has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate. | Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to human use of fossil fuel has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate. |
| What measures are you taking to cope with the heatwave? Share your stories. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | What measures are you taking to cope with the heatwave? Share your stories. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |