Laurence Dollimore
BRITS visiting Benidorm this week have been warned to avoid drinking and sunbathing during the day.
That’s the advice of state weather agency AEMET, which has placed the resort on an orange-level alert for extreme heat.
That’s just one level down from the maximum red alert, which is actioned when there is a serious risk to life.
READ MORE: Heatwave warning in Spain: Highs of 44C this week
According to Aemet, temperatures in Benidorm and across the whole Costa Blanca are set to soar past 40C on Saturday.
It comes as a heatwave is arriving to Spain today, sparked by a blast of hot air blowing in from north Africa.
Dozens of provinces and cities are on yellow and orange alerts from Thursday, with the mercury reaching its peak on Friday and Saturday.
Benidorm will see highs of 36C tomorrow, before reaching 41C on Saturday.
Aemet has published a list of precautions people should take when temperatures reach such levels.
This includes ‘staying hydrated with plenty of water’ and avoiding ‘drinks containing caffeine and alcohol’ because they can ‘dehydrate the body, taking it to the point of heat stroke.’
Meanwhile, between 12pm and 5pm, you should avoid direct sunlight, especially if you are doing physical activity.
During these hours, due to the position of the sun in the sky, its rays are at their strongest – bringing a greater risk of sunburn or sun stroke.
Meanwhile, children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses must be closely monitored as they are more vulnerable to the extreme conditions.
