Extreme weather: From blankets on glaciers to ice cream for pandas, Europe finds new way to deal with blistering heatwave | World News
A relentless heatwave plaguing Europe has left some of the oldest glaciers in the Alps in need of cover to protect them from melting.
The Rhone Glacier in Switzerland is just one of the places that have caused casualties due to the extreme heat the continent has experienced over the past few days.
A series of wildfires has seen firefighters battle blazes in Portugal, Spain and southern France – as well as in Turkey at the other end of the Mediterranean.
Drones have been made to help combat the worst of some wildfires.
Tourists have been evacuated from campsites in Gironde, France, where more than 2,700 hectares have burned so far, while temperatures are expected to break records in Portugal and Spain.
Bing Xing is happy with his summer food. Pic: Associated Press
The giant panda Bing Xing of the Madrid Zoo enjoys ice watermelons provided by the keepers to keep him and the other animals cool.
In addition to his daily ration of 50kg of fresh bamboo, Bing Xing, whose name means “shooting star”, eagerly munches on frozen fruit on a stick.
Gray seals receive frozen fish
Predators such as lions or seals are offered ‘lollies’ made from beef or fish, depending on their diet. Zookeepers also spray the animals with water.
Birds ‘could start falling from the sky’ – all UK weather updates live
People hug their pets as they evacuate after a forest fire, in Leiria, Portugal
A man takes a cold shower on the roof of an apartment complex in Madrid
In Portugal’s southern Algarve region, popular with tourists, authorities blocked entrances to the luxury Quinta do Lago resort and golf course as thick clouds of smoke rose from a side area Its edge was ignited by the high temperature.
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Terrifying fire breaks out as Portugal’s temperature rises to 46 degrees Celsius
And in the central district of Leiria, north of Lisbon, where temperatures rose to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), police were forced to block off a major highway due to a similar fire.
A pharmacy thermometer shows rising temperatures in Nantes, France
The villagers had not been able to evacuate in time, pouring water on their roofs to try to cool them down and put out the fire.
People cool off at an urban beach in Madrid
Almost the whole land Portugal is on red alert for extreme temperature conditions.
Helicopters pour water on a forest fire on the outskirts of Madrid. Pic: Associated Press
The World Meteorological Organization has warned “human-caused climate change” is causing drought, and a United Nations report says the number of extreme wildfires is expected to increase by 30%. within the next 28 years.
