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Europe on red alert: A new heat wave is coming, extreme heat declared an emergency

The article reports on rising temperatures across Europe, with forecasts indicating potential highs of up to 43°C in Portugal and southern Spain, and similar extreme heat conditions in parts of Central Asia. In response, a special emergency meeting was held involving representatives from 41 EU member states, the European Commission, and civil society organizations. Over 130 participants discussed lessons learned from current heatwaves and preparedness measures for future events. The World Health Organization highlighted that well-prepared action plans can save lives, citing examples like Italy’s real-time mortality monitoring system, Spain’s improved communication strategies, Austria’s updated heat protection plans, and Belgium’s rare highest-level warning. However, the meeting also identified significant gaps, noting that less than half of European countries have adopted national heat protection action plans. Concerns were raised about public awareness of the dangers of extreme heat, insufficient cooling centers, inadequate infrastructure adaptation, and delays in declaring heatwaves. Authorities warn that timely preparation and adherence to guidelines will be crucial during this,