Europe’s weather chaos: Firefighters killed in France, hailstorms hit Croatia, Albania residents dive into fountains

The weather across Europe has taken on a near-surreal quality, with the heatwave continuing to wreak havoc — including through deadly wildfires — while hailstorms have begun making surprise appearances. In France, Reuters reported that two firefighters lost their lives while battling a building fire near Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in the Gironde region, which had been placed on red alert for wildfires. Spain is also ablaze, with forests in the province of Guadalajara in central Spain burning for a sixth consecutive day, forcing 1,200 people to evacuate their homes. Midday temperatures are hitting 40 degrees Celsius, with warnings of further fires in the forecast. Spaniards are also mourning the 13 people who perished in the province of Almería, near Bédar, in what is being considered the deadliest wildfire of the millennium.

Read also: Standing firm in the heatwave: The Evzones under Athens’ scorching sun, upholding Greece’s honor

Weather crisis: The Danube drops to its lowest level in 80 years

The news is equally grim in Serbia, where the water level of the Danube has fallen to its lowest point since 1946, according to officials. Barges and vessels have been forced to carry lighter-than-usual loads in order to navigate the Danube and Sava rivers through Serbian territory without running aground.

The heat is persisting in the United Kingdom as well, to the extent that water utility company Thames Water has decided to implement conservation measures. The company announced it will enforce water use restrictions for the 10 million customers it supplies in and around London, banning the use of garden hoses, sprinklers, and pressure washers in outdoor spaces in order to conserve its supplies. In Albania, meanwhile, residents have been diving into public fountains to cool off. “I swear to God, the temperatures are extremely high today (note: July 21). It’s 42 degrees Celsius. You simply can’t cope without cold water,” said Ferid Salihu, a resident of Tirana.

Amid all this, weather forecasts are pointing to a shift in conditions across the western Balkans, with hailstorms now entering the picture. Croatian media reported that several people sustained minor injuries from hail at the popular Croatian resort town of Rovinj.