WMO warns of risk of heart attacks, deaths as heatwave intensifies

The heatwave engulfing the northern hemisphere, including Greece, is set to intensify this week, causing overnight temperatures to surge and leading to an increased risk of heart attacks and deaths, the World Meteorological Organization said on Tuesday.

The WMO warned that the heatwave was in its early phases, saying it expected temperatures in North America, Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean to be above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) "for a prolonged number of days this week as the heatwave intensifies."

This could mean midnight temperatures hovering in the high 30s in some areas this week, it said.

"Repeated high nighttime temperatures are particularly dangerous for human health, because the body is unable to recover from sustained heat. This leads to increased cases of heart attacks and death," John Nairn, Senior Extreme Heat Advisor for WMO told...