Europe Gripped by Deadly Heatwave

A severe heatwave linked to dozens of deaths continues spreading eastward across Europe, gripping Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and other countries with record-breaking temperatures. The unprecedented June heat has caused significant disruptions across the continent.

The German National Meteorological Service reported a new national high of 41.3°C near Saarbruecken on Friday, though this reading is still preliminary. Extreme heat warnings were issued for nearly all of Germany as authorities urged water conservation and warned of temperatures reaching up to 42°C in some areas.

The heatwave has caused widespread infrastructure challenges. Deutsche Bahn allowed customers to cancel long-distance travel bookings without charge due to the strain on its infrastructure from sun exposure and potential thunderstorms or wildfires. In North Rhine-Westphalia, National Express suspended trains on its Rhine-Ruhr-Express line as a preventative measure.

In Switzerland, temperatures reached 102°F in Basel, setting new records. The Danish Meteorological Institute reported a record high of 99°F in Ødum north of Aarhus, the warmest day since records began in 1874. Germany's famous Autobahn was also affected, with temperatures expected to hit 104°F. In two places outside Berlin, the concrete of the A2 highway burst due to high temperatures, forcing closures.

The Czech Republic saw its hottest day on record with temperatures reaching 105°F in Doksany. In France, although temperatures were easing, hospitals remained under intense pressure due to heat-related emergencies. The Paris public hospital authority activated an emergency response plan across all 38 hospitals.

In the western German city of Dormagen, dozens of residents of a nursing home were evacuated for medical care due to dangerous heat conditions in the building. A resident at the home died overnight, though it was not yet clear whether the heat was the cause. Multiple towns in eastern France saw their highest-ever temperatures, with some above 104°F.

The Paris public hospital authority reported an 80% increase in phone calls to its medical dispatch centers compared with the same period last year. Concerns that hospitals could be overwhelmed prompted the postponement of the Paris Pride march for LGBTQ+ rights and a three-day music festival cancellation.

Scientists have attributed the intensity of this heatwave to man-made climate change, which has made such extreme temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been two decades ago. The heatwave is expected to peak over the weekend before gradually fading with heavy thunderstorms forecast for Sunday.