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Extreme weather events such as heat waves, fires, hurricanes and floods are becoming more frequent and violent in Spain. A climate expert has asked everyone to be cautious saying that it will have a serious impact on public health and the environment.
Xavier Martin-Vide, professor of physical geography at the University of Barcelona, said, "The Spanish people need both morale and preparation to deal with the current deteriorating weather conditions."
In late June and early July, temperatures reached 42 degrees in many parts of Spain. This week, Spain's Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rain, storms and flooding in some areas.
According to Professor Martin-Bhide, such high temperatures greatly increase the risk of wildfires. This week, 3,300 hectares of land have burned in the northeastern Catalonia region alone. Just a few days ago, a fire destroyed 6,000 hectares of land in the same area, most of which was agricultural land.
'Such fires can easily spread in extreme heat,' he said.
He added, 'Events such as fires, floods, storms and hurricanes will become more common every year after extreme temperatures.'
The professor said that it is known from climate studies, 'The temperature will increase further in the coming years. This will cause these heat waves to start earlier, last longer and be more intense.'
He says the effects of heat are especially dangerous for the elderly. According to Spain's Ministry of Health, 2,020 people died last summer due to heat-related problems, 90 percent of whom were over 75.
The risk of fires, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters is increasing due to rising temperatures in Spain. Such extreme weather events seem to be becoming more common every year. Therefore, experts have suggested that everyone, from the general public to the state agencies, should be aware of climate risks and prepare in time.
