IT’S EL ON EARTH

Thousands flee 43˚C killer heatwave in Portugal and Spain

HOLIDAYMAKERS fled ferocious wildfires in Portugal yesterday as temperatures hit 43°C (110F) and the killer Iberian heatwave showed no sign of letting up.

More than 740 firefighters battled the forest fires in southern Algarve – popular with sun-seeking Brits.

Two villages were evacuated and eleven planes were used to drop water on the blaze at Perna da Negra, near Monchique, half an hour from the coast.

Britain’s former Prime Minister David Cameron – on holiday there with his family – was given updates on the blaze by British officials as smoke drifted close to the secluded fivebedroom villa he is renting.

The blistering hot air from North Africa sent temperatures in Spain soaring to 420C (108F) yesterday.

A middle-aged homeless man found dead in a street in Barcelona is believed to have been killed by heat- stroke – the third victim of the heatwave. A 41-year-old road worker and 78-yearold man died earlier in Murcia in southern Spain. Millions of holidaymakers are caught up in the Euro heatwave, including more than 300,000 Irish and Brit expats in Spain. Across Europe, France saw a high of 400C (104F). In Finland temperatures reached 300C (86F) – 22 degrees higher than usual. Even Switzerland hit 280C (82F). Norwegian drivers were urged to watch out for reindeer hiding in tunnels to avoid the 240C (76F) heat. Here, warm temperatures and sunshine are set to return for the remainder of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Met Eireann said: “It will be duller in the more northwestern and northern parts of the country with patchy drizzle or light rain. Highs of 18 to 25 degrees with light southwesterly breezes, freshening along Atlantic coasts.”

A boy of 16 died in hospital yesterday four days after being rescued from the sea in Wales. Blake Ward, from Dudley, West Midlands, was on a family trip.