Central and eastern European nations are grappling with a severe heat wave that has shattered temperature records from Switzerland to the Czech Republic and Denmark.
The sweltering conditions have led to significant disruptions, including damage to transportation infrastructure and an increase in heat-related medical emergencies.
Record Temperatures Across the Continent
In Denmark, the Danish Meteorological Institute recorded a new all-time high of 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in Ødum, the warmest temperature since records began in 1874. Switzerland registered a record 38.8 C (101.8 F) in Basel. The Czech Republic experienced its hottest day on record with 40.6 C (105 F) in Doksany, with forecasters suggesting temperatures could still rise.
Germany's Autobahn faced significant challenges as temperatures approached 40 C (104 F). Sections of the A2 highway near Berlin buckled due to the extreme heat, forcing closures. Other highway damage was reported across the country, according to German daily Bild. Train operator Deutsche Bahn advised against all nonessential travel over the weekend, stating that Germany's transportation infrastructure was being severely affected.
In Dormagen, Germany, dozens of nursing home residents required medical evacuation due to dangerous indoor heat. Temperatures inside the facility reached 35 C (95 F), highlighting the lack of widespread air conditioning in Europe, a region unaccustomed to such oppressive heat. A city spokesperson told German news agency dpa that a resident died overnight, though it remained unclear if the heat was the cause.
Strain on Public Health and Services
In France, where temperatures were beginning to ease in some areas, hospitals remained under intense pressure from heat-related illnesses, including heart attacks, heatstroke, and dehydration. The Paris public hospital authority activated its emergency response plan, with emergency departments treating nearly 3,000 patients in 24 hours, a significant increase over normal levels. Phone calls to medical dispatch centers were up nearly 80% compared to the same period in 2025.
France had placed three-quarters of the country under a red alert for extreme heat earlier in the week, with temperatures exceeding 40 C (104 F) in some locations, including Paris. Concerns about hospitals being overwhelmed led to the postponement of the Paris Pride march and the cancellation of a three-day music festival.
Officials noted that while the current heat wave is severe, they do not anticipate the same mortality rates as the 2003 heat wave, which was blamed for approximately 15,000 heat-related deaths. Advances in treating heat-related conditions have improved since then, according to Nicolas Revel, director of the AP-HP. However, he cautioned that a significant number of deaths are still expected.
Wider Impacts and Climate Change Context
In the United Kingdom, which experienced its hottest June day on record with a provisional temperature of 37.3 C (99 F) in eastern England, conditions were expected to gradually ease. Authorities warned about the dangers of swimming in unsupervised areas, such as rivers and lakes, following approximately 40 reported deaths in France over the past week. A 22-year-old man's body was recovered from a river in the UK after he reportedly got into difficulty during the heat wave.
Italy's capital, Rome, remained under a red heat alert, with tourists seeking shade and relief in public fountains. Street vendors reported brisk sales of water, hats, and sun umbrellas. Eighteen Italian cities, including Venice, Florence, Bologna, and Milan, were on high alert due to the dangerous temperatures.
A recent study from the World Weather Attribution collaboration of scientists concluded that the extreme heat and humidity experienced in Europe this week would have been virtually impossible without climate change. The study found that such conditions are now 200 times more likely than they were 20 years ago.
André Corrêa do Lago, president of the U.N. climate talks (COP30), stated that the current heat wave reinforces the urgency of addressing climate change, emphasizing the need for immediate action.