英语新闻丨欧洲遭遇强热浪 民众饱受酷暑煎熬

Europeans are braced for a heat wave that could push the mercury beyond 44 C this week, and cost the lives of elderly residents and people with underlying health conditions.
欧洲即将迎来一轮极端热浪，本周局部最高气温或将突破 44 摄氏度，老年人以及患有基础病的人群生命安全将受到严重威胁。

The heat wave, which is centered on France but that is impacting much of Western Europe, has prompted the French government to put its emergency services and military forces on high alert, with teams ordered to be ready to attack heat-related wildfires.
这股热浪核心影响法国，西欧多数地区均遭波及。法国政府已要求各类应急机构与军队进入最高戒备状态，救援队伍随时待命，扑救高温引发的山林野火。

The average temperature in France at this time of year ranges between 15 C and 25 C.
往年这个时节，法国平均气温仅在 15 至 25 摄氏度之间。

The country has also canceled some outdoor sports events, and restricted alcohol availability at a major nationwide music festival on Sunday, over fears people could become dehydrated by drinking beer to stay cool, instead of more appropriate beverages.
法国还取消了多项户外体育赛事，并于周日在一场全国大型音乐节上限制酒水售卖。当局担心民众靠喝啤酒消暑，不饮用补水饮品，进而出现脱水症状。

The government said restricted alcohol sales will also help "preserve emergency services and allow medics to concentrate on taking care of the most vulnerable".
法国政府表示，限制售酒能够减轻急救系统的负担，让医护人员集中精力照料高危易感人群。

Around a third of France is the subject of a red health alert that began on Sunday.
从周日起，法国约三分之一国土拉响高温红色健康警报。

Thermometers were set to hit 40 C on Sunday and edge several degrees higher on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
周日当地气温攀升至 40 摄氏度，周一、周二、周三还会再升高好几度。

The uncomfortably hot weather has prompted popular tourist attractions to set up misting stations and drinking-water fountains.
持续酷热之下，各大热门景区纷纷增设喷雾降温点与免费饮水喷头。

And the extreme weather is also impacting the United Kingdom, which issued an amber extreme heat warning on Sunday for southern England, the Midlands, and much of Wales.
极端高温同样席卷英国。该国周日针对英格兰南部、中部以及威尔士大部分地区发布高温预警。

The UK's Met Office said temperatures could hit 36 C or 37 C on Monday and Tuesday. The average temperature in the country at this time of year is between 14.5 C and 15.5 C.
英国气象局预测，周一、周二最高气温可达 36 至 37 摄氏度；而当地往年同期平均气温仅 14.5 至 15.5 摄氏度。

Italy has also issued what it calls "red flags" for eight of its cities in northern and central parts of the country. Temperatures in those red flag zones are expected to be in the high 30s.
意大利也给本国中北部八座城市发布高温 “红旗预警”，预警区域气温预计将逼近 40 摄氏度。

The European heatwave is likely to trigger a strong demand for energy — as people crank up their air conditioning units — and lead to water shortages and transport disruption.
这轮欧洲热浪会促使居民大量开启空调，电力需求激增，同时还会造成供水短缺、交通运行受阻等一系列问题。

The World Health Organization's Europe office said this month that more than 200,000 people have died across the continent from heat-related causes during the past four years, with most of the fatalities entirely preventable.
世界卫生组织欧洲区域办事处本月发布消息，过去四年欧洲已有超 20 万人死于高温相关疾病，其中绝大多数死亡事故本可以避免。

The WHO urged people to avoid swimming in lakes and rivers that they are unfamiliar with, or that do not have organized swimming areas, because many deaths were caused by people jumping into dangerous bodies of water.
世卫组织提醒民众，不要在陌生河湖或是无正规游泳区域的水域下水，许多人都是因贸然跳入危险水域溺水身亡。

The WHO also called on governments and employers to offer people respite from the heat and additional breaks or flexible shifts that ensure workers can stay out of the midday sun.
世卫组织同时呼吁各国政府和企业设立避暑场所，增加休息时长、实行弹性排班，避免劳动者在正午烈日下作业。

Weather experts have said heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent and intense because of human-induced climate change.
气象专家指出，受人类活动引发的气候变化影响，热浪发生的频次越来越高，极端程度也持续加剧。

mercury /ˈmɜːkjəri/n. 气温；水银
vulnerable /ˈvʌlnərəbl/adj. 易受伤害的，体质虚弱的
disruption /dɪsˈrʌpʃn/n. 中断，扰乱
respite /ˈrespaɪt/n. 喘息，短暂缓解