Southern and central Europe remain on alert, but the end of the heat wave is in sight.

Madrid, July 2 (Efeverde).- The intense heat wave that has scorched much of Europe in recent days is beginning to subside, with much of the south and center of the continent still on alert for high temperatures, which could cause nearly a dozen deaths in Spain, France, and Italy.

The French government has announced at least two deaths from this incident, in addition to the urgent treatment by firefighters for three hundred people.

The northwestern departments have been the first to notice the drop in temperature, but the central part of the country remains on red alert, with temperatures expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius.

In Paris, the alert is orange, with an estimated high of 34 degrees.

In the afternoon and evening, there is a risk of "locally violent thunderstorms," ​​likely bringing heavy rain showers.

New protocol in Italy

With hospital emergency services overwhelmed since Tuesday, the Italian Ministry of Labor signed a protocol with unions and companies this Wednesday to prevent occupational risks related to climate emergencies.

The agreement provides for new practices that include information, training, clothing, and shift reorganization, among other measures. It will be added to the ordinances issued by health and regional authorities, such as those prohibiting outdoor work during peak hours and during high temperatures until the end of August.

The current wave of temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius has caused several fatalities in the country. The latest case under investigation is that of a 70-year-old truck driver who was found dead inside his vehicle at a rest stop.

This Tuesday, a 53-year-old woman died in Palermo while walking down the street and feeling ill due to the intense heat. A worker is in a coma after collapsing while working in a well, and another died on Monday while working on the construction of a school.

The heat continues in Spain

For another day, the heat remains stifling in Spain, with eleven regions having issued warnings for very high temperatures, seven of them at the orange level, including Madrid, amid forecasts of extreme temperatures that could reach up to 43 degrees in parts of Andalusia.

The situation could continue into Thursday, although the arrival of a front will cause a drop in temperatures over the weekend in the Cantabrian Sea, which could spread to other areas.

This Wednesday, temperatures will drop significantly in the northern communities, with associated rain in that area.

In Barcelona, ​​a City Hall cleaning service worker died Saturday night after working the afternoon shift in extremely hot conditions.

A two-and-a-half-year-old boy died on Tuesday in Valls (Tarragona) after being trapped in a car for nearly four hours. Police sources point to heat exhaustion as the possible cause.

Cooling off in the subway and churches in Germany

Germany faces its hottest day of the year on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in some places and extreme heat warnings in particular in the west and southwest.

While Tuesday saw the highest temperature of the year in Bavaria, 37.8 degrees, everything points to that record being broken today, although not the all-time record, which dates back to June 25, 2019, when thermometers reached 41.2 degrees in North Rhine-Westphalia.

In Berlin, one way to escape the extreme heat is to take refuge in the Brandenburger Tor metro station, ideal for tourists who regularly visit this monument, which is located 17 meters underground.

Some places of worship have opened their doors as shelters, particularly for the homeless.

This heat wave will give way to a gradual drop in temperatures in Germany starting Thursday, with highs of between 20 and 26 degrees in the northwest and between 25 and 32 degrees in the southeast.

The heat wave has also reached the Western Balkans, with temperatures forecast to reach 42 degrees Celsius over the next three days. In North Macedonia, news reports are announcing the arrival of the "Spanish heat wave."