This Year will be the Hottest in Recorded History, Confirms European Monitor

According to Copernicus, 2023's global average temperature is 1.46°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. Reuters
According to Copernicus, 2023's global average temperature is 1.46°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. Reuters
TT

This Year will be the Hottest in Recorded History, Confirms European Monitor

According to Copernicus, 2023's global average temperature is 1.46°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. Reuters
According to Copernicus, 2023's global average temperature is 1.46°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. Reuters

This year will be the hottest in recorded history after an "extraordinary" November became the sixth record-breaking month in a row, EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service announced on Wednesday.

Samantha Burgess, deputy head of the Copernicus service, said that 2023 has "now had six record-breaking months and two record-breaking seasons. The extraordinary global November temperatures, including two days warmer than 2C above pre-industrial (levels), mean that 2023 is the warmest year in recorded history."

According to Copernicus, 2023's global average temperature is 1.46°C warmer than pre-industrial levels.

There had been warnings this year could take the title of hottest year from 2016 – particularly after records toppled in September and October – but this marks the first time it has been confirmed.

Scientists say data from ice cores, tree rings and the like suggests this year could be the warmest in more than 100,000 years.



Several Found Dead in Eastern Romania as Rainstorms Strands Scores

Firefighters operate in an area, after heavy rain triggered flooding in Pechea, Galati country, Romania September 14, 2024. Galati Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights
Firefighters operate in an area, after heavy rain triggered flooding in Pechea, Galati country, Romania September 14, 2024. Galati Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights
TT

Several Found Dead in Eastern Romania as Rainstorms Strands Scores

Firefighters operate in an area, after heavy rain triggered flooding in Pechea, Galati country, Romania September 14, 2024. Galati Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights
Firefighters operate in an area, after heavy rain triggered flooding in Pechea, Galati country, Romania September 14, 2024. Galati Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights

Five people in eastern Romania have been found dead after torrential rainstorms left scores of people stranded in flooded areas, emergency authorities said Saturday.

Rescue services scrambled to save 95 people in the hard-hit eastern counties of Galati and Vaslui. The bodies of three elderly women and two men were found in the localities of Pechea, Draguseni, Costache Negri, and Corod, the Department for Emergency Situations said, The AP reported.

Authorities later added that it was determined one of the victims had been dead for two days and “did not die due to the effects of the weather” but from other causes.

Emergency authorities released video footage that showed a team of rescuers evacuating an elderly man on a small lifeboat before carrying him to safety.

A Black Hawk helicopter was deployed to Galati to help with the search and rescue missions.

The storms battered 19 localities in eight counties in Romania, with strong winds downing dozens of trees that damaged cars and blocked roads and traffic. Authorities sent text message alerts to residents to warn them of adverse weather as emergency services rushed to remove floodwaters from homes. Some roads have also been closed.

The stormy weather comes as several central European nations anticipate severe flooding forecast to hit the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary over the weekend.