- More than 191 million people in Europe face temperatures over 35C, with extreme heat warnings from Germany to Hungary. Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia are braced for record temperatures of over 40C.
- Germany set a new all-time high for the second day in a row, as temperatures reached 41.5C, according to provisional data.
- On Saturday, records also fell in Denmark and the Czech Republic as the unprecedented early summer heatwave moved further north and east affecting more people.
- Europe has recorded more than 1,300 excess deaths since 21 June as searing temperatures gripped the continent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, announced the figures in a post on social media on Sunday, stressing that "European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures".
- The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute expects temperatures to exceed 41C "by quite a bit".
- Czechia's all-time record of 40.6C was recorded on Saturday.
- In Slovakia, temperatures above 39C were reported, with the all-time record of 40.3C, set in 2007, likely to be beaten on Sunday or Monday.
- Denmark registered its highest temperature since measurements began in 1874, with 36.6C north of Odense.
- The French national public health agency reported 1,000 additional deaths between 24 and 27 June compared with previous months.
- Preliminary figures in Spain showed at least 327 deaths that could be linked to the heat between last Sunday and Thursday.
European nations are grappling with unprecedented heatwaves, with over 191 million people experiencing temperatures above 35°C. The World Health Organization has reported more than 1,300 excess deaths since June 21, as countries like France, Germany, and Spain face severe health impacts.124
In France, health officials noted approximately 1,000 additional deaths during the heatwave, primarily affecting older adults. The French public health agency indicated that most fatalities involved individuals aged 65 and over, with the most affected regions under red heat alerts.10
Germany recorded a new all-time high of 41.5°C, while Denmark and the Czech Republic also set records. The Czech Republic's temperature reached 40.8°C, and Poland is on track to break its all-time record of 40.2°C from 1921.3
The heatwave has strained infrastructure, with train services reduced in Germany and power outages affecting thousands in France. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the unpreparedness of European homes and schools for such extreme temperatures, stating, “Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling.”5
As the heat persists, health officials warn that the impact could linger for days, with rising concerns over agriculture and water supply in affected regions.
“More than 1,300 excess deaths have been reported in Europe due to the ongoing heatwave, according to the World Health Organization. Countries like Germany, Denmark, and the Czech Republic are experiencing record-breaking temperatures as the heatwave continues to spread.”
The Guardian
Euronews
