Dog days in Romania and southeastern Europe

The hot weather that has lately affected Romania continues to harm the population as well as impede the well-functioning of transport services and public utilities, while meteorologists warn that the ordeal would last until the beginning of next week and temperatures of up to 40 degrees will be registered.

Yesterday, by 15,00 hours, almost 60 fires were registered in several localities countrywide, this being the highest number of incidents that have occurred over the last decade within such a short period of time, according to firemen.

For transport security, CFR SA National Railway Company cut down the speed of carriers, between 13,00 and 17,00 hours and interrupted the circulation of freight trains. The measure was taken as the temperature of rails exceeded 60 degrees, much over the average of previous years.

The Ambulance Service could hardly cope with calls, which started early in the morning, six ambulances being solicited for high schools where final exams are in progress. As the governmental ordinance on employees’ protection during hot weather has come into effect, but cannot be applied since there are no methodological norms, the Health Ministry advised the population to avoid sun exposure, drink much liquid and have cold showers.

The very hot weather is also ravaging Europe, especially the southeastern part, the Balkans being affected since May by the most serious drought within the last fifty years, which has destroyed important areas of agricultural crops.