Europe is experiencing record heat: temperatures reach +45 °C, the death toll rises, and authorities are closing schools

Europe has been hit by one of the most powerful heatwaves in recorded meteorological history. In many countries, temperatures have exceeded +40 °C, and in some parts of Spain they have reached +45 °C. The extreme heat has already led to hundreds of deaths, disruptions to transport and energy systems, school closures, and the introduction of emergency restrictions.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, the current heatwave has become one of the most widespread in recent decades and has affected almost all of Western, Central, and Eastern Europe.

France: schools are closing, doctors report rising mortality

In France, authorities have introduced the highest level of weather alert in dozens of departments at once. Due to the extreme temperatures, many schools and kindergartens have been closed, and mass events have been canceled or postponed. In a number of cities, the sale and consumption of alcohol in the streets has been restricted, as it significantly increases the risk of heatstroke and dehydration.

The country’s medical services are operating in an enhanced mode. According to a preliminary estimate by French health authorities, the heat has caused about 1,000 additional deaths in just a few days, most of them among people over 65. At the same time, experts warn that the final figures may still rise significantly.

In Paris, the heat is already affecting everyday life. It was reported that one of the drivers of a city bus became ill at the wheel, after which an accident occurred. Due to the high temperatures, a record number of emergency calls is also being recorded in the capital.

Spain: more than two hundred dead in a few days

Spain has been among the hardest-hit countries. According to the national mortality monitoring system, approximately 212–327 possible heat-related deaths were registered in just four days. The exact number is still being уточнено.

In addition, in an effort to escape the unbearable heat, people are massively heading to rivers, lakes, and the sea. This has led to a sharp increase in the number of water accidents. Dozens of fatal drownings have already been registered in France and neighboring countries.

Infrastructure is failing to cope

The heat is affecting not only people’s health. In many countries, railway tracks and roads are overheating, train services are being disrupted, and pressure on power grids is increasing.

In France and Switzerland, electricity output had to be reduced at some nuclear power plants because the water in rivers used to cool the reactors became too warm. In some areas, thousands of homes were temporarily left without electricity.

At the same time, demand for fans, portable air conditioners, and cooling equipment has surged sharply. In many stores, popular models are sold out almost immediately after arrival.

The heat continues to spread

According to forecasters, the wave of extreme heat is gradually shifting eastward across Europe. Very high temperatures are expected in the coming days in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other countries in the region, where historical temperature records may also be broken.

Meteorologists warn that the peak of the current heatwave is not over yet. Even after the passage of a cold front, the health consequences for the population may persist for several more days, since mortality from overheating usually continues to rise even after the heat itself has subsided.

Experts link the increasing frequency of extreme heatwaves to climate change. In their assessment, such events are becoming much more likely and more intense than they were a few decades ago, and European cities are finding it increasingly difficult to adapt to such prolonged periods of extreme heat.