Spain is experiencing its first heat wave this summer, with temperatures exceeding 44 degrees on Monday in the south of the country, according to the meteorological agency (Aemet), which has issued an alert in several regions, according to AFP.

According to Aemet, the heatwave that started on Sunday has raised the mercury in thermometers to more than 38 degrees in Madrid and 44.4 degrees in El Granado in Andalusia (southwest).

On Sunday, the mercury already reached 43.8 degrees in the city near the border with Portugal, according to the weather agency, which expects temperatures to return to more acceptable levels by midweek.

In Seville (in the southwest), where the thermometer reached 42.9 degrees on Monday, high temperatures forced many workers to change their working hours to avoid sunstroke.

“Usually we work from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but we changed it to 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,” Miguel Angel, a construction worker, told AFPTV.

“Three years ago, I suffered four heatstrokes” while working, “heatstrokes that caused me to pass out. Today I am very careful,” he explained.

Rising temperatures have forced authorities to activate heat plans that identify different levels of risk for the public and allow them to adjust the hours of schooling and working outdoors.

In 2022, several workers died on the job in Spain due to extreme temperatures. These deaths forced the authorities to increase protection measures. (photo: Dreamstime)

Travel warning issued by MAE – Red and orange heat codes in Spain

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs citizens of Romania who are in, transiting or intending to travel to Spain, the Autonomous Community of Andalusia and the Autonomous Community of Extremadura that the Spanish Meteorological Agency has issued a red and orange heat code for the period 26-28 June 2023.

Citizens of Romania can request consular assistance at the telephone numbers of the Consulate General of Romania in Seville: +34954233243, +34954230947, +34954624053, +34954624070, calls are forwarded to the Contact and Support Center for Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and are accepted. Call Center operators on a permanent basis. Also, Romanian citizens who find themselves in a difficult, special, emergency situation have at their disposal the permanent phone number of the Consulate General of Romania in Seville: +34648212169.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends reading the web pages http://www.meteoalarm.org, http://sevilla.mae.ro/contact, www.mae.ro and reminds that Romanian citizens traveling abroad have has at its disposal the application “Travel in safe” (http://www.mae.ro/app_cs), which offers information and advice on travel.