A deadly heatwave held its grip on Europe this week, overwhelming hospitals, disrupting transportation, and prompting emergency measures as record-breaking temperatures spread across much of the continent.
Authorities say hundreds of people are believed to have died during the prolonged stretch of extreme heat, while millions more have endured temperatures exceeding 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). The worst conditions are now shifting east after several days of scorching weather across western Europe.
According to AFP, more than 101 million Europeans have experienced temperatures above 35C in recent days, while an estimated 380 million people are expected to see temperatures surpass 30C during the broader heatwave.
France has been among the hardest-hit countries. Officials reported a fourfold increase in heat-related emergency room visits, a spike in cardiac arrests, and mounting pressure on hospitals.
“We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities,” Paris police chief Patrice Faure said. “The number of hospitalisations keeps increasing.”
In response, Paris authorities took the unusual step of banning public alcohol consumption and evening alcohol sales through the weekend in an effort to reduce heat-related medical emergencies.
Britain also reported significant strain on emergency services. London’s ambulance service said Wednesday produced its highest number of life-threatening emergency calls in a single day.
The heat has proven especially dangerous for vulnerable populations. French authorities reported that at least 40 people, many of them young, drowned while attempting to cool off in lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water during the extreme temperatures.
Officials also confirmed the death of a three-year-old boy who was found inside a parked vehicle near Paris after temperatures climbed above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
Spain’s MoMo mortality monitoring system estimated that 212 deaths between Sunday and Wednesday were linked to the heatwave. Italian media also reported several heat-related fatalities, including two farmworkers and a construction worker.
As western Europe begins to cool, forecasters warn eastern Europe is now facing the worst of the heat. Germany is expecting temperatures approaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40C) through the weekend, prompting cancellations of outdoor events and travel advisories from the country’s national rail operator.
Scientists have pointed to a “heat dome” over Europe as the immediate meteorological cause of the event. Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, said a large area of high pressure trapped hot air flowing north from Africa, preventing cooler air from moving into the region.
A separate attribution study released Friday by researchers from Europe, the United States, and Britain stated that human-caused climate change significantly intensified the heatwave. The researchers claimed a similar event would have been virtually impossible in June 50 years ago and estimated that daytime temperatures during a comparable event in 1976 would have been roughly 3.5 degrees Celsius cooler.
United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell likewise argued that the extreme temperatures bore “the fingerprints of the climate crisis,” while calling for reductions in fossil fuel emissions.
The heatwave has also renewed concerns about Europe’s preparedness for prolonged periods of extreme heat. Much of the continent’s infrastructure—including homes, hospitals, and public transportation systems—was built without widespread air conditioning or other cooling measures.
Officials across Europe continue urging residents to stay indoors during peak afternoon hours, remain hydrated, check on elderly neighbors, and avoid unnecessary travel as dangerously high temperatures persist across much of the region.
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