Record heat sends Kärnten residents seeking relief

People in Kärnten are looking for relief from temperatures of up to 38 degrees, with options ranging from a cave and cold streams to churches, ORF reported. The EU climate service Copernicus has confirmed that Europe experienced its hottest-ever June and July this year.

Klagenfurt recorded temperatures above 30 degrees on 33 days this year, a new record. Many people are seeking cooler places, including the Griffen cave, where temperatures remain at 7.5 degrees throughout the day.

Herta Dobrounig, chairwoman of the Griffen cave association, said the attraction was experiencing a major increase in visitors during the summer months, with almost every tour fully booked. The cave is open every day and receives about 10,000 visitors a year, most of them during the summer.

The Waidischbach stream is another popular place to cool down. While the lakes in Kärnten average 26 degrees, water flowing from the Karawanken mountains is about 15 degrees.

Doctors are warning people to take care when entering cold water. Stefan Neuwersch-Sommeregger, an intensive care doctor at the Barmherzige Brüder hospital in St Veit, said heat causes blood vessels to widen. Jumping into a cool lake, especially headfirst, can trigger the opposite reaction, narrowing the vessels and forcing the heart to work against increased resistance. This can place stress on the cardiovascular system, including in fit people.

People should drink enough water, Neuwersch-Sommeregger said. Local cooling methods such as wet compresses and cool showers can also help. The hospital has treated more patients for heatstroke this year than in previous years.

Homeless people have particular difficulty escaping the heat in the city. The Caritas Eggerheim day centre offers some relief with a shaded garden, a fountain and cold drinks, said Christian Eile, head of the Caritas Kärnten department.

The centre receives 70 to 80 visitors a day, an unusually high number. Eile said people could not remain in many public spaces because of extensive alcohol-free zones and parks where alcohol is prohibited. The day centre has reached its capacity and needs about 20 additional places to accommodate everyone in need.

Heat will remain an issue for people affected by poverty, Eile said, including because some flats become so hot that residents can no longer stay in them. Caritas also runs climate oases, allowing people to shelter from the heat in churches.