Warning of heat waves and dangers in the Mediterranean - watch out for vacationers!

Warning of heat waves and dangers in the Mediterranean - watch out for vacationers!

Griechenland, Land - On May 23, 2025, the Federal Foreign Office updated its travel recommendations for the Mediterranean region and pronounced significant warnings. Travel to countries such as Greece, Spain, France and Italy could become increasingly risky. In particular, the announced extreme temperatures during the summer months are a health risk. In Greece, heat waves with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius are not uncommon, which can be dangerous, especially for vulnerable groups of people such as infants, children, seniors and people with chronic diseases. Vacationers should avoid physical exertion in the midday heat and protect themselves well.

Hikers in the region in particular should pay attention to adequate precautions. When hiking, it is advisable to take sun protection and enough drinking water with you. Even an charged mobile phone and a power bank should not be missing in order to be available in an emergency. In addition, the Federal Foreign Office indicates the risk of earthquakes in Greece, especially on the island of Santorini, and the increased risk of forest fire in the entire Mediterranean region.

weather extreme and water shortage

The situation in Italy is also worrying. Here the travelers are faced with droughts and lack of water, especially in Sicily, where the highest alarm level has already been reached. The Environment Ministry of Italy, ISpra, offers current information on the weather. These climatic conditions are not only problematic for travelers, but also for the local population that already suffers from the consequences.

Climate change contributes significantly to these extreme weather conditions. According to a report by the IPCC world climate, the air in the Mediterranean heats up between 20 and 50 percent faster than the global average. Forecasts indicate that the temperature could increase by 2 to 3.5 degrees above the pre -industrial level by the end of the 21st century, even if the Paris climate targets are observed. If the high CO₂ emissions continued, the heating could even be above 5 degrees.

ecological challenges

These developments have serious effects on the environment. The heating of the Mediterranean leads to an increase in water temperatures and an increase in algae and jellyfish. Some types of jellyfish can cause painful encounters with vacationers. Nevertheless, there is no danger of extremely dangerous jellyfish such as cubes in the Mediterranean. In the long term, it is forecast that the sea water becomes more acidic, which can damage numerous marine organisms. This not only affects biodiversity, but also the economic foundations of many Mediterranean countries that are heavily dependent on tourism.

The weather extreme and increasing risk of forest fire are in line with the forecasts of the IPCC. The report points out that the number of days with a high or extreme fire risk in southern Europe has already reached the level expected for 2050. Marine heat waves, which will occur in the long term, more intensively and more frequently could be considerable risks to human health and economy in the future, which is why travelers should start well and prepared on summer vacation.

For detailed information on the current situation and weather conditions, the official pages such as those of the Foreign Office here as well as the report of the IPCC to consult here