Spain suffocates in suffocating heat, more than 40 ° C in Madrid and Seville

Published on : 07/11/2021 – 14:18

A heat wave raged, Sunday, July 11, over a large part of Spain, with temperatures at extreme levels, pushing residents and tourists to take refuge in the shade or in the coolness of the swimming pools.

The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) had warned most of the country against a heat wave, with temperatures reaching over 40 ° C in Madrid and Seville (south) for the second day in a row.

The first episode of extreme heat in Spain this year is expected to spread east on Monday, before temperatures drop. Only a small part of Spain’s north Atlantic coast should be spared.

Some escaped the scorching heat by taking refuge in the air-conditioned galleries of Madrid’s famous Prado Museum, which houses works by Rembrandt, Rubens and El Greco.

“It’s like that every year, we almost forget”

“We thought it would be a good plan for a day like today,” said Rosa Alfageme, 44, as she stood in line to enter the museum with her husband and their six-year-old daughter. .

“It’s like that every year, we almost forget,” continued Rosa Alfageme, adding that they did not have air conditioning at home.

Others went to the nearby Retiro Park, which has an artificial lake, or to the municipal swimming pools.

The 19 outdoor swimming pools in the city were full on Sunday: all tickets have been sold, while their capacity is limited due to health restrictions due to the coronavirus.

Authorities advised people to drink water regularly, wear light clothing, and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.

According to meteorologists, temperatures could reach 44 ° C in the Guadalquivir valley, near Seville, on Sunday.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Spain is 49 ° C.

With AFP