Meanwhile railroad companies are warning passengers that the extreme heat could lead to delays or outright cancellations, as tracks will bend or even buckle in the forecasted temperatures, reports the Independent. Vast expanses of southern Europe and North Africa are likewise being seared by off-the-charts temperatures, with Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, Morocco, and Algeria particularly hard-hit. Since late June, 96% of the country has been classified as being in either “severe” or “extreme” drought, writes The Associated Press. In Portugal, the numbers are even higher—so far 659 people, mostly elderly, have died from heat stress, writes the BBC. High temperatures in Europe and Asia will also have an impact on global food security, writes Grist.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 18, 2022 03:43 UTC