Spanish palm bushes seem like ‘melting’ in surprising heatwave as mercury spikes

A surprising video exhibits the second a palm tree snapped in half within the sweltering warmth within the province of Alicante.

Benidorm, Torrevieja, Crevillente and Elche had been among the many locations the place practically a dozen palms collapsed earlier this week as a consequence of excessive warmth circumstances, native media reported. 

Temperatures had been within the excessive thirties on July 19 in Alicante, whereas different locations exceeded 40C, with Álora and surrounding areas recording a most of 44.2C, in keeping with climate service Aemet. 

Biology professor Manuel Crespo from the University of Alicante believes these excessive temperatures had been chargeable for the palms’ deaths. 

He advised native media: “Should irrigation be reduced due to drought, the compacting of the soil can lead to root damage due to insufficient aeration, ultimately weakening the plant and possibly causing it to detach from the ground in extreme cases.”

READ MORE: UK heatwave to return in days as maps show scorching weather

Although palm bushes are sometimes present in deserts, the professor stated that “they are only found in oases with abundant groundwater”. 

Agronomist and Spanish Landscapers’ Association president Jose Luis Romeu additionally advised native media: “Palm trees can fall due to multiple factors, and one of them is lack of irrigation. The stiffer the trunk of a palm tree, the higher the risk.”

He added: “In the past, palm trees, especially in Elche, were located around irrigation ditches. Now, in parks with sprinkler irrigation, water only reaches the first few centimetres.

“While it is true that there have been important rains in April, May, and June, offering necessary and enough irrigation, we’re at present coping with a number of water stress and abrupt temperature adjustments, and the plant doesn’t have the capability for such fast adaptation.”

The agronomist continued: “If palm bushes are positioned in areas the place they can not develop their root system and anchor themselves properly to the substrate, it could result in the crops turning into unstable and falling.”

The Elche Film Festival was compelled to cancel all its screenings as a consequence of security issues after a palm tree collapsed on July 16.