フランスで季節外れの熱波 スペインでは森林火災相次ぐ

【ＡＦＰ＝時事】フランスは、今週末にかけ各地が季節外れの記録的熱波に見舞われる見通しで、当局が注意を呼び掛けている。隣国スペインはすでに６日連続の猛暑に見舞われており、森林火災が相次いでいる。（写真は仏首都パリのエッフェル塔に臨むトロカデロ広場の噴水で涼む男性）
　フランス気象局によると、同国では史上最も早い熱波の発生で、冬から春にかけての異常な乾燥で生じた干ばつが悪化し、森林火災を引き起こす危険性が高まっている。スペインからの熱波は１４日、南仏ピレネー山脈に到達。１８日にかけて国土の大半に広まると予想され、首都パリでは気温が３９度に達する可能性もある。
　スペイン気象庁によると、同国では最高気温が４３度に到達する見通しで、１９日まで暑さが和らぐ見込みはない。北東部カタルーニャ自治州では、少なくとも３件の森林火災が発生している。
　先月は、スペインで今世紀に入ってから最も暑い５月、隣国ポルトガルでも１９３１年以来最も暑い５月になっていた。多くの科学者は、欧州各地で季節外れの暑さが続く原因として、温室効果ガスの排出による地球温暖化を指摘している。
　フランスの送電会社ＲＴＥによると、同国ではエアコンや扇風機の使用が急増。国内原子炉の多くが保守点検などのために運転を停止しているため、近隣諸国から電力を輸入せざるを得なくなっている。また、猛暑のため河川の水位が低下し、温度の高い冷却水を河川に戻すと環境に影響が出るため、一部の原子力発電所は出力を下げざるを得ないという。
　フランス国鉄は、暑さによる線路の変形や、電気機器の故障で列車の減速運転が必要となり、遅延が発生する可能性があると警告している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/06/17-12:52）

French officials urged caution Thursday as a record pre-summer heatwave spread across the country from Spain, where authorities were fighting forest fires on a sixth day of sweltering temperatures.
The Meteo France weather service said it was the earliest hot spell ever to hit the country, worsening a drought caused by an unusually dry winter and spring, and raising the risk of wildfires.
Spain, which has already seen its hottest May since the beginning of this century, was sweating under temperatures forecast as high as 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) and no relief is expected before Sunday, the Aemet weather service said.
At least three forest fires erupted in Catalonia, including one near Baldomar around 140 kilometres (87 miles) northeast of Barcelona, that has burned nearly 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) but could grow to 20,000 hectares before it is contained, the regional government said.
No evacuations have yet been ordered but people are being urged to remain in their homes.
Neighbouring Portugal saw its hottest May since 1931, with most scientists attributing the early season heat across Europe to global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists say heat waves have become more likely due to climate change. As global temperatures rise over time, heat waves are predicted to become more frequent and intense and last longer, and their impacts more widespread.
- 'Worst I've ever seen' -
The heatwave crossed the Pyrenees into southern France on Tuesday and was set to hit most of the country by Saturday, when thermometers could reach 39C in Paris.
Most of France was on heatwave alert, including 12 departments at the highest level in the southwest, where the education ministry advised parents to keep younger students at home if possible on Friday.
Be alert! Hydrate, stay in cool areas, and stay in touch with those close to you, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Twitter.
Officials in Paris and other cities have also issued alerts over ozone pollution, which occurs when intense sunlight transforms carbon emissions into smog.
Paris police chief Didier Lallement has cut speed limits for the region by 10 km/h (6.2 mph) for Friday.
I'm 86 years old, I was born here, but I think this is the worst heatwave I've ever seen, Jacqueline Bonnaud told AFP at a shaded park in the southern city of Toulouse.
Surging use of air-conditioners and fans was forcing France to import electricity from neighbouring countries, grid operator RTE said, since many of the country's nuclear reactors are offline to evaluate potential corrosion risks or for maintenance.
- 'Infrastructure suffers' -
The intense heat is also lowering river levels, meaning some nuclear plants must reduce output because water used for cooling reactors is too hot to be returned to waterways without endangering plants and wildlife.
Spain, Italy and other countries have recently limited the use of air-conditioners to save energy, and French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher told France 2 television that she was considering the same.
Saturday will be the peak, with temperatures of 35 to 39 degrees across most of the country, Tristan Amm, a Meteo France forecaster, told AFP.
Schools have stocked up on water and several have moved end-of-year exams to north-facing rooms, while some departments in the south have said classes will be cancelled on Friday afternoon.
Cities such as Bordeaux have also installed misting devices on the hottest squares and streets.
Rail operator SNCF has warned of potential delays as trains are forced to slow because the heat has deformed tracks or damaged electrical equipment.
Our infrastructure suffers in the heat, said SNCF regional director Thierry Rose, noting that track-level temperatures in Bordeaux had hit 52 Celsius (126 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.