FCDO updates France, Spain and Portugal advice amid heatwave

The Foreign Office has updated its advice for travellers heading to France, Spain and Portugal as Europe’s deadly heatwave intensifies.

New information was added about extreme temperatures to the ‘Safety and security’ pages for each destination.

The BBC reported that 40 people have drowned in heatwave-related deaths in France since Thursday, “as temperatures hit record levels in several major cities and the heatwave reaches a peak in several European countries”.

The broadcaster said France, Spain and Italy have been hardest hit by the heatwave so far.

More: Three in four Brits think parts of Europe will soon be too hot for holidays

France saw its hottest June day on record on Tuesday (June 23), reaching an average of 29.8C, and more than half the country is on red alert.

The Telegraph reported that the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in Paris announced early closing times as “France bore the brunt of the heat”.

Meanwhile, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and western Germany have seen temperatures more than 12C above seasonal norms, added the newspaper.

In Spain, temperatures are set to peak above 40C in some areas, with red alerts in Andalusia, Cantabria and the Basque Country.

FCDO guidance warns the dangers of extreme heat include dehydration, overheating and heatstroke and links to TravelHealthPro for more details about on the health risks of high temperatures.

The BBC noted climate change is driving up temperatures around the world but particularly in Europe.

“It is the fastest warming content, heating up twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus climate service,” said the broadcaster.

“This is causing increased summer heatwaves, greater pressure on Europe’s water supply, and more intense wildfires.”