Heat wave hits Malta – almost 43 degrees and power cuts Heat wave hits Malta – almost 43 degrees and power cuts

Malta is also groaning under the heat wave, which has been causing extremely high temperatures in southern Europe for quite some time. On Monday there was 42.7 degrees in Malta. According to the country’s National Meteorological Service, the July record set in 1988 has been reached. Authorities have issued a heat warning and urged people not to leave their homes during the hottest part of the day – between 11am and 4pm.

The high temperatures have also led to repeated power outages in recent days. It is now the eighth day in a row that the smallest EU country is struggling with this. Electricity demand rose to a national record. So there were problems in the network.

The blackouts sometimes lasted up to 36 hours. State energy company Enemalta blamed the high temperatures for damaging many of its underground cables. Tens of thousands of individuals and businesses were affected. Air conditioning and cooling devices did not work accordingly.

Many people slept on the ground, outside, or in their running vehicles at night to escape the heat. Restaurants and supermarkets had to throw away thousands of euros worth of food that had thawed and was no longer usable. (sda/dpa)