SPAIN: Record high temperatures

Seven regions in Spain are in red alert due to the extreme heat as the temperature in several places reached 40 degrees Centigrade (104 Fahrenheit) on Friday (July 21). According to meteorologists, the current heatwave has been caused by the arrival of air currents from Africa which have caused a rise in temperature throughout the Pensinsula, even northern regions such as Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria. Tourists and locals in downtown Madrid took precautions to avoid the heat while still enjoying the Spanish capital attractions. "We need to do something to avoid this heat other wise we are going to melt down like this lollipop," Nancy, a Mexican tourist visiting Madrid told Reuters Television. American tourist Ning and his wife try to plan their day avoiding the site seeing during the hottest hours. "(We) try to get out of the sun, try to do the site seeing in the morning or the afternoon, drink a lot of water, it is better," he said. In the Basque city of San Sebastian, locals and tourists enjoyed the beach as authorities kept remaining people of precautions against the heat. The weather forecast is for the high temperatures to continue over the weekend and the worst affected areas are in central and south-east Spain where temperatures will remain over 40 degrees. Civil Protection issued a statement on Thusrday (July 20) advising people in Spain to try and stay in shaded, ventilated places, to drink plenty of water and eat fresh food and to wear light clothing and hats to protect themselves from the sun. According to the Meteorologist Centre of Spain, this July has been between three and five degrees hotter than the long-term average. Authorities are hoping to avoid deaths because of the hot weather.

ITN Source | July 22, 2006

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