30 June 2025 , 15:58
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A British man has reportedly disappeared on a Greek holiday island, prompting a large-scale search after his rental car was found abandoned.
Temperatures around the popular island of Karpathos have risen above 30°C today as nearly all of southern Europe experiences extreme heat conditions.
According to the Sun, eight police officers, a team of firefighters, and members of the Greek coast guard are investigating the 60-year-old man’s disappearance.
The newspaper reports he was last seen in the Tristomo area in the far north of the island and had been staying in a rented room in nearby Olympos.
According to local media, the 60-year-old man’s car was found abandoned in Karpathos, close to the popular holiday island of Rhodes.
A FCDO spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who is missing in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.’
Temperatures in many parts of the continent are soaring well above 40°C, as the climate emergency continues to create life-threatening weather conditions.
Strong winds are threatening to exacerbate rapidly spreading forest fires in Izmir Province, on the west coast of Turkey.
Adnan Menderes Airport, which serves the popular tourist destination city of Izmir, was closed for a time yesterday, with services just now returning to normal.
According to its website, flights scheduled to leave yesterday evening will finally be getting off the ground today – with one returning to London Stanstead after a delay of more than 20 hours.
Izmir Mayor Dr Cemil Tugay said: ‘Today is a very tough day for us – we are simultaneously battling numerous fires breaking out all across our beautiful Izmir.
‘In collaboration with relevant institutions, our Fire Department, along with heavy machinery, tankers, and all field personnel, is on high alert.’
He said the ‘vast majority’ of the fires were ’caused by human hands’, and urged people in the area to be extremely careful.
A Barcelona street sweeper, who was reportedly in her fifties, died on Saturday after a day of extremely high temperatures. Authorities in the city are investigating the cause.
On the same day, a new Spanish heat record for June was set in the town of El Granado on the Portuguese border, where the mercury hit a sweltering 46°C.
Over the weekend, Spain, Portugal, Greece and France all issued extreme heat, wildfire and health warnings.
Red heat warnings are currently in effect in Portugal, Italy and Croatia, while amber warnings cover parts of Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Turkey wildfires map
Wildfires have also appeared in top tourist spots Antalya and Mersin, though authorities have reportedly contained or extinguished them.
Map shows where the biggest wildfires have struck in Turkey over the past five days (Picture: Metro)
Temperatures in Izmir are expected to reach 36°C later today, and could approach 40°C later this week.
Turkey is among the countries that have been worst-affected by the ongoing heatwave sweeping southern Europe.
European heatwave hits multiple countries
Several regions of Italy – including Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia and Umbria – are preparing to ban outdoor work during the hottest parts of the days out of health concerns.
The Italian health ministry placed 21 out of the 27 monitored cities under its highest health alert yesterday, with Rome, Naples and Milan among them.
In Portugal, two-thirds of the country has been placed on high alert for extreme heat and wildfires ahead of temperatures expected to exceed 42°C in Lisbon.
The Greek island of Chios, which is the fifth largest in the country, was ravaged by blazes that tore through 11,000 acres of bush and pasture land.
On Thursday, a large wildfire south of Athens led to evacuations and road closures near the 2,700-year-old Temple of Poseidon.
Politics Editor