The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has issued a warning on dangers of
consistently high night-time temperatures as parts of Europe deal with unprecedented heat-wave.
The organisation’s Extreme Weather Expert, John Nairn, explained on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Geneva that “the body is unable to recover from sustained heat.”
The WMO said it expects the current trend toward hotter weather to continue.
According to the organisation, phases of extreme temperatures in some cases increased six-fold since the 1980s.
“The world needs to prepare for more intense heatwaves,” Nairn added.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), around 400,000 people have died as a result of extreme climate and weather events in the past 10 years.
IFRC Spokesman, Panu Saaristo, said it was active in many countries to help those most likely to be affected by the hot weather, especially around the Mediterranean.
“For example, the Red Cross in Italy phones older people to check on their well-being; in Spain and Portugal, the Red Cross publicises the dangers via social media; in Greece, the Red Cross provides people with drinking water,” it stated.
