Explained | Wildfires and heatwaves raged around the world in July Premium
The Hindu
A compilation of wildfires and heatwave events that happened in July 2023
Multiple wildfires have been raging across the Northern Hemisphere in the past month, even as many countries across Europe, Asia and northern America have been experiencing record-high temperatures.
The frequent wildfires and soaring temperatures are expected to have been exacerbated by climate change.
Also Read | Dangerous heatwaves strike globe as wildfires rage
A recent study noted that the recent heatwaves sweeping across America and southern Europe may not have happened in the absence of global warming.
The same study stated that the heat-trapping gasses released from burning coal, oil and natural gas have made heatwaves in China 50-times more likely to occur with a chance of taking place every five years or so.
It further highlighted that the unusually strong heatwave in Europe became at least 2.5°C hotter while the one raging through the US and Mexico was 2°C hotter. Even in China, the heatwave was 1.8°C warmer.
Spain, among other Mediterranean countries, has been bearing the brunt of wildfires, particularly hard. 400 firemen battled a fire in the Canary Islands that forced 4,000 people to flee and forced others to wear face masks. one of the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain. In Gran Canaria, one of the Canary Islands blazing wildfires have reportedly ravaged 400 hectares of woodland. At least, 400 firemen battled a fire in the Canary Islands that forced 4,000 people to flee and forced others to wear face masks.