VALLETTA – Malta is the latest country to suffer under the extreme heatwaves that have struck the south of Europe in recent weeks as it battles with its eighth day of power cuts caused by high temperatures, reported German news agency (dpa).
The country recorded 42.7 degrees Celsius on Monday, reaching the July record set in 1988, according to the country’s national meteorological service.
As a result, local authorities issued a heat warning, urging people not to leave their homes between 11 am and 4 pm, the hottest hours of the day.
The high temperatures have also led to eight days of repeated power outages.
At the same time, demand for electricity rose to a national record, putting the power grid under considerable strain.
In some cases, power outages lasted as long as 36 hours. Enemalta, the state-owned power company, said the high temperatures have damaged many of its underground cables.
Tens of thousands of individuals and businesses were affected, as air-conditioners broke down.
Many people slept on the ground, outdoors or in their cars with the engine running to escape the heat at night.
The collapse of the power supply cost businesses a lot of money in some cases. Restaurants and supermarkets had to throw away defrosted food worth thousands of euros.
The Maltese Hotel and Restaurant Association, meanwhile, also reported frustrated guests checking out of hotels because of the power cuts.
Aside from Greece, which has been battling wildfires for over a week now and has had to evacuate tens of thousands of tourists from popular holiday islands, other countries in Europe such as Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Italy and France are also facing abnormally sweltering temperatures. – Bernama
