The unfathomable Cerberus heatwave has been roasting Southern Europe, and a second heatwave dubbed Charon is hot on its heels, bringing even more terrible weather, like wildfires.
Since a volcanic eruption in 2021, this is the island’s first major natural disaster.
The Canary Island‘s El Pinar de Puntagorda, a forested region, is where the fire first broke out this morning.
Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands, said: ‘The number of people who need to be evacuated could reach 1,000. It depends on whether we can bring these strong winds under control.’
Around 346 acres have been destroyed in the blaze.
Island authorities have been forced to seek help from other territories in the archipelago, such as Gomera and Tenerife.
The second heatwave has been named after a Greek god who ferries souls into the underworld.
One man died in northern Italy due to the Cerberus weather front, named after the three-headed dog who guards the gates of the underworld in Greek mythology.
The European Space Agency warned: ‘Temperatures are expected to climb to 48°C on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia – potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe.’
Around 346 acres have been destroyed in the blaze (Picture: EPA)
Health authorities have issued a red alert warning for 10 Italian cities, including Rome, Florence and Bologna.
‘Heat is a silent killer. So this is the main concern that people’s lives are at risk,’ said climate scientist Hannah Cloke.
Emergency measures have also been introduced for workers in Greece, while wildfires have broken out across the country, as well as in Croatia.
After a man collapsed and died in Italy, the severe 48°C heatwave known as Cerberus was announced to tourists in Southern Europe.
Yesterday, when temperatures reached beyond 40°C, the 44-year-old was working in the city of Lodi, southeast of Milan, according to Italy24.
The man, a road sign worker, passed away at a hospital after collapsing in front of his coworkers.
Anticyclone weather system Cerberus, which is advancing over the continent from the Sahara desert, is said to have contributed to his death by causing the intense heatwave that was experienced there.
The Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily are expected to reach a record breaking 48°C.
The general secretary of Fenealuil Milan-Cremona-Lodi-Pavia, Salvatore Cutaia, said: ‘The climate is a cause of accident and also of death. This is a situation that could be repeated given the temperatures.
‘We find ourselves once again having to mourn a 44-year-old worker who has only done his job.’
The anticyclone has been named after the three-headed dog from Greek mythology, who guards the gates to the underworld.
Meteorologist Stefano Rossi told Italian outlet La Stampa: ‘Metaphorically, the three heads indicate the three main climatic zone into which Italy will be divided.’
Thousands of holidaymakers in the Mediterranean are now being urged to take precautions in the extreme heat.
Temperatures are also predicted to rise to 45°C in southern Spain and 44°C in Greece this week.
Conditions will also rise to 42°C in Cyprus, 38°C in Croatia and France will be basking in 37°C heat by the end of this week.
Many British tourists are struggling to handle the heat, with one woman seen collapsing in front of the Colosseum in Rome as temperatures topped 36°C.
Tourists were pictured resting beneath trees while others resorted to using their shirts as parasols to shield themselves from the sun.
But the Met Office have thankfully said the UK will be spared the extreme temperatures.
It is expected the extreme hot weather will last for two weeks.
Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said: ‘The heatwave conditions which are affecting parts of south west Europe and north west Africa are expected to extend eastward.
‘Much higher than average temperatures are also likely at times further north across Europe, but these will be shorter lived and less impactful.
‘Communities in the affected regions should expect health impacts and the potential for wildfires.’
Call it serendipity, as a simple business trip to an island in Southern Europe, paves the way for the birth of a national treasure in Ghana.
A Finance Minister’s fascination with the lottery when he chances on it while on an official visit, culminates in the birth of the Department of National Lotteries (DNL), when he informs the President of the Republic, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of his exciting discovery.
After discussions with the Maltese Government, another visit by Ghanaian envoys to understudy the lottery, the secondment of Maltese officials to help Ghana set up its own lottery body, and the passing of a Lotteries bill in parliament in 1962, DNL is officially instituted.
Sixty years on, DNL now an autonomous body, the National Lottery Authority NLA, reconnects with its mother lottery Authority in Malta.
A team comprising some Board Members and Management including Mr. Philip Anning, Madam Frances Joana Adda, the Director-General, Mr. Samuel Awuku, the Chief Internal Auditor, Mrs. Emmanuella Ephraim, the Head of Corporate Affairs, Ms. Judith Kormle and the Interim Chairman of the Association of Lotto Marketing Companies, Mr. Francis Opoku officially paid a visit to some selected government Offices and the Malta Gaming Authority to invite them to NLA’s 60th Anniversary Celebration.
The NLA Delegation, representing the Board Chairman, His Emminence, Torgbui Francis Nyono, together with Ghana’s High Commissioner to Malta, H.E Barbara Benissa first called on Malta’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Ian Borg, who paid glowing tribute to the partnership between Ghana and Malta and called for closer collaboration between these countries.
He wished the NLA well and promised to reciprocate the official visit in January as part of his Official tour to Ghana. He was confident Ghana could still learn from the Maltese experience since Malta had advanced from what Francis Brennan taught Ghana some 60 years ago.
Next, the NLA team led by the Ghana High Commissioner to Malta, H.E Barbara A. Benisa also had the privilege of paying a courtesy call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta, Hon. Anġlu Farrugia. He warmly welcomed the NLA Team and handed over a copy of the 1962 Registration Certificate of NLA to the Director General, Mr. Samuel Awuku. He also advised the NLA team to change its lottery processes and strategies to achieve greater revenue and growth.
The Director General of NLA, Mr. Samuel Awuku thanked the Speaker of Parliament, for the hospitality and for taking the time to meet with the team even though the Maltese Parliament was in session deliberating on their budget for 2023.
The NLA delegation also visited the Malta Gaming Authority, the regulator of the National Lottery in Malta. They were met by the Chief Officer of Policy and International Affairs, Mr. Kinga Warda who thanked the team for the recognition and gave them an insight into their game.
The CEO of the main operator of the Maltese National Lottery, Mr. Johann Schembri while proposing ways NLA can deal with the activities of illegal lottery operators, expressed concern over the high commission rates paid by NLA and warned that this development could affect the Authority within the next few years if not stopped.
They indicated that Malta, which had one of the highest commission rates of 7% in the world is seeking to guard against future increases, citing countries like the United Kingdom and the United States which currently pay commission rates of around 6%. They indicated their willingness to partner with NLA in developing the game to another level.
The Malta Gaming Authority confirmed its participation at NLA ‘s 60t Anniversary Grand Durbar.
The visit to Malta was facilitated by the Maltese High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E
