The China Mail - Weather

Belgium races to tame huge wildfire creeping towards Germany

Water-bombing aircraft and farmers' tractors joined forces Sunday to help firefighters tame Belgium's largest modern-day wildfire, which has scorched vast swathes of a hard-to-reach nature reserve near the German border.

Two dead, hundreds evacuated from fires on island near Athens

Two people died and hundreds of weekend bathers were hurriedly evacuated Sunday after two fires broke out on the Greek island of Salamis near Athens in less than half an hour, the fire department said.

Farmers, helicopters help battle record Belgian wildfire

Military helicopters backed by tractors on the ground hauled water Sunday to help firefighters tame Belgium's largest modern-day wildfire, which mushroomed in size since breaking out two days earlier in a hard-to-access nature reserve.

Air support kicks in as record Belgian wildfire jumps in size

Crucial air support swung into action Sunday to help firefighters tame Belgium's largest modern-day wildfire, which has mushroomed in size since breaking out two days ago in a hard-to-access nature reserve.

In wildfire town, PM says UK must 'face up to climate change'

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Friday that Britain must face up to the changing climate and accelerate its move to clean energy as he visited a town where a wildfire gutted homes.

Body found after wildfire hits Croatian coastal town

Croatian police discovered a body in a burnt-out area on Friday, after a wildfire swept through a coastal area overnight, leaving dozens injured and forcing thousands to flee.

UK firefighters 'under pressure' as multiple blazes rage

British firefighters were "under significant pressure" battling multiple wildfires amid soaring temperatures and drought conditions, the head of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said Friday.

Thousands stranded as heavy rain kills at least five in Japan

At least five people died in eastern Japan after "unprecedented" heavy rain that left thousands stranded at Narita airport overnight and snarled up roads and rail services, authorities said Friday.

Thousands stranded as heavy rain kills at least four in Japan

At least four people died in eastern Japan after "unprecedented" heavy rain that left thousands stranded at Narita airport overnight and snarled up roads and rail services, authorities said Friday.

Boats rescue tourists as forest fire flames threaten Greek beaches

A fleet of small boats evacuated about 500 tourists from beaches in northern Greece as a forest fire threatened two popular resorts.

Europe swelters under fresh wave of extreme heat

Millions of people across Europe -- particularly in France, Italy, Spain and Britain -- baked through a new wave of extreme temperatures Thursday as the continent's latest heatwave picked up.

Eclipse chasers flock to Spain for 'breathtaking' experience

Suddenly, the world is plunged into an eerie, violet darkness. The temperature drops. Birds and other animals, bewildered by unforeseen night, start behaving strangely. Stars and planets appear in the sky next to the blotted-out Sun.

Too hot to live? French buyers rethink housing choices after heatwaves

After multiple severe heatwaves in a single summer, French residents are increasingly factoring high temperatures into their home hunts, realtors say, bumping up features such as shutters, air conditioning and indirect sunlight on their priority lists.

Schools closed as Indonesia battles wildfires

Dozens of Indonesian schools were shuttered for a second day Tuesday against the spreading haze of wildfires plaguing the archipelago at the start of a long and intense dry season worsened by El Nino.

Drought dries major European rivers to record lows

Vast tracts of many of Europe's largest rivers, including the Rhine, Rhone and Danube, have slowed to a trickle never-before recorded in the month of July, data from a European climate observatory showed on Monday.

Drought drys major European rivers to record lows

Vast tracts of many of Europe's largest rivers, including the Rhine, Rhone and Danube, have slowed to a trickle never-before recorded in the month of July, data from a European climate observatory showed on Monday.

Drought forces water restrictions across nearly 70 percent of France

Nearly 70 percent of France is subject to water-use restrictions as drought conditions worsen amid successive heatwaves, the government said Monday.

Europe braces for another summer heatwave

Much of Europe is bracing for yet another heatwave following periods of scorching temperatures that have driven rivers to record lows, ignited historic forest fires and contributed to thousands of deaths.

July was Spain's hottest month on record: weather agency

July was mainland Spain's joint-hottest month since records began in 1961, national weather agency AEMET said on Monday, after high temperatures fuelled the country's biggest wildfire in recent history.

Eighth day of wildfires in Indonesian national park

Indonesian firefighters backed by helicopters and drones battled devastating flames for an eighth day Monday in a national park on Java Island where over 500 hectares have been lost, an official said.

Typhoon Dolphin weakens but disrupts travel in east China

Typhoon Dolphin brought heavy rain to eastern China on Monday, causing hundreds of flight cancellations even as the storm weakened and some cities resumed public transport.

Western Europe experienced hottest June-July on record: EU monitor

Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July on record as climate change fuels an historic summer of heat, drought and wildfires across the region, the EU's global warming monitor said Monday.

Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in China after flight cancellations, evacuations

Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in densely populated eastern China on Sunday, meteorological authorities said, after the storm triggered more than 1,000 flight cancellations, evacuations and a top-level alert.

Flight cancellations, evacuations in China as Typhoon Dolphin looms

China's densely populated eastern coast was preparing Sunday for the arrival of Typhoon Dolphin, which has triggered more than 1,000 flight cancellations, evacuations and a top-level alert from authorities.

Canada tries to adapt to a future of wildfires

Faced with another summer when wildfires have scorched millions of hectares of land and blankets of smoke have disrupted daily life nationwide, Canada is trying to limit the annual devastation.

Indonesia battles Mount Bromo wildfire as El Nino takes root

Indonesian authorities battled Friday to contain a wildfire that has swept through Mount Bromo National Park on Java island, destroying more than 120 hectares as the country braces itself for an extreme El Nino-fuelled dry season.

Food security fears mount as UK farmers battle drought

Giant dust clouds rose from a green-red combine harvester as it crawled across a parched field, a sign that something was awry with UK farmer John Pawsey's land.

North Korea touts dog soup and other home-cooked recipes to beat the heat

Dog meat soup and bubbling ginseng broths are being proffered by North Korea's leadership as home remedies to take the edge off a spell of searing weather.

Rising Kenyan lakes push crocodiles closer to homes

A crocodile basks in the sunshine on the roof of a submerged conference hall at a holiday resort in central Kenya, in a visible sign of how rising lake waters are endangering thousands of families and local businesses.

South Korea pro baseball league cancels games over heatwave

South Korea's professional baseball league cancelled all games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday amid a record-setting heatwave that has sent spectators to hospital.

'Like the end of the world': the eclipse chasers flocking to Spain