Brits heading to Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca warned of 'red alert'
Spanish holiday hotspots are on high fire alert thanks to weeks of roasting hot temperatures intensified by climate change.
A forest fire red alert has been issued in Majorca by the Palma Met Office on Tuesday morning, after islands in Italy and Greece were hit be ferocious blazes.
AEMET, Spain's meteorological agency, has issued an "extreme" red alert for the island which runs along the southern tip and eastern coast, near to the resorts of Magaluf, Palmanova and Santa Ponsa.
Other Balearic Islands, Ibiza and Menorca, are on "high" fire risk alert after weeks of scorching hot sunshine turned woodland on the island into a "tinder box," according to firefighters.
According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin fire fighting services in the country are prepared for any blazed that break out.
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The fire risk map with Ibiza on the left, Majorca in the middle and Menorca on the right (@AEMET_Baleares / Twitter)They are are well equipped to deal with forest fires with planes, helicopters and seaplanes and obviously the fire brigade.
Last week AEMET issued extreme weather risk warnings - the maximum alert level - for Majorca and parts of northern Spain as the mercury pushed above the 40C mark.
News that the islands are bracing for wildfires will not be welcome to those holidaymakers who are heading to them over the coming days.
Wildfires in Rhodes, Greece has led to the evacuation of thousands of Brits who were enjoying holidays there this week. While many have been desperate to get off the island, more are arriving.
Airlines including easyJet and Ryanair are continuing to fly to Rhodes meaning - with the UK Foreign Office having not issued a travel warning notice for the island - customers booked onto flights there are unlikely to be entitled to a refund.
Even with Spanish national forecasters having warned of the threat of fire in several resorts loved by Brits, unless your flight or package holiday is cancelled, you're unlikely to be able to drop out without a significant financial hit.
If you have a holiday booked but you're concerned about being stuck in very high temperatures, you should look out for signs of heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke, according to the NHS website.
People sunbath near the coastal town of Saranda as smoke billows from the Greek Island of Corfu (AFP via Getty Images)You should stay hydrated, avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm and avoid exercise or other strenuous activities.
Although it may not be particularly helpful for this year, when it comes to booking a holiday in somewhere rendered less inhospitable by the impact of human made climate change, there are some rules you can follow.
The Mirror spoke with a climate change expert who shared their tips if you're planning a holiday including considering off-peak or shoulder seasons to avoid extreme heat and consider weekday visits instead of weekends to avoid additional stress to the destination.
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They also recommend that Brits track long-term weather patterns and forecasts to review holiday times, so as to avoid periods of extreme weather events, including floods and heat waves.
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