Europe is suffering under another extreme heat wave that is putting people’s health at risk and setting the stage for wildfires.
Italian weather forecasters have named the latest heat wave “Charon” — after the ferryman in Greek mythology who carries souls to the underworld.
Last month was the planet’s hottest June on record by a substantial margin, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
That unprecedented heat has continued into this month. The first week of July was the hottest week on record, according to preliminary data from the World Meteorological Organization.
The heat has also helped prime the land for fires. In Greece, more than 500 firefighters were trying to control four wildfires this week. Prominent fires have also been raging in Italy and Spain.
Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.
Photos this week: July 13-20, 2023
