Woman drops dead after working in extreme heat as wildfires rage across Turkey

A woman working as a street sweeper in Barcelona has died after completing her shift amid extreme heat conditions gripping southern Europe, as several countries continue to battle soaring temperatures and widespread wildfires. The worker, reported to be in her fifties, collapsed after enduring a day of intense heat. Authorities in Barcelona are investigating the exact cause of death, which comes as Spain recorded a new national June temperature high of 46C in El Granado, near the Portuguese border. The incident underscores the growing human toll of the climate emergency, which is fuelling life-threatening weather events across the continent. Over the weekend, extreme heat, wildfire, and health warnings were issued across Spain, Portugal, Greece, and France. In Turkey, rapidly spreading forest fires have engulfed large areas of Izmir Province, prompting the temporary closure of Adnan Menderes Airport, which serves the coastal city of Izmir, a popular destination for tourists. Flights that were grounded for over 20 hours are now beginning to resume. Izmir Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay described the situation as critical, saying: Today is a very tough day for us, we are simultaneously battling numerous fires breaking out all across our beautiful Izmir. He confirmed that the citys fire department, supported by heavy machinery, tankers, and field personnel, is operating at full capacity. Tugay also alleged that most of the fires were caused by human hands, urging the public to act responsibly and remain vigilant. Images from Izmir show residents and emergency crews battling flames that have reached central districts such as Gaziemir. Industrial areas and vehicles have been destroyed, and thick smoke continues to blanket parts of the city. While officials report that wildfires in Antalya and Mersin have been largely contained or extinguished, the threat remains high. Red heat warnings are currently in place in Portugal, Italy, and Croatia. Several other countriesincluding Austria, France, Belgium, Hungary, and Switzerland, are under amber alerts. Italy has begun implementing emergency measures, with regions such as Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia, and Umbria preparing to ban outdoor work during peak heat hours. The Italian health ministry issued its highest alert in 21 of 27 monitored cities, including Rome, Naples, and Milan. Emergency tents have been set up at major tourist sites like the Colosseum in Rome to provide aid to those affected by heat-related illnesses. With temperatures expected to reach 36C in Izmir today and climb further in the days ahead, officials and health experts across Europe are warning of worsening conditions as the continent braces for the continuing impact of the climate crisis.The post Woman drops dead after working in extreme heat as wildfires rage across Turkey appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.