Sweltering heat wave sets new records across Europe

Key Points:

• Record-breaking heat wave swept across central and eastern Europe, with Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Germany experiencing unprecedented high temperatures, including 38.8°C in Basel and 40.8°C in the Czech Republic.
• Germany's infrastructure suffered heat-related damage, such as highway closures due to concrete bursting, and Deutsche Bahn advised against nonessential train travel; a nursing home evacuation in Dormagen highlighted health risks, with one resident dying under unclear circumstances.
• France faced intense hospital pressure amid extreme heat, with Paris emergency rooms seeing a 30% increase in patients and events like the Paris Pride march postponed due to health concerns; temperatures surpassed those of the deadly 2003 heat wave.
• The UK experienced a record-breaking June heat with temperatures up to 37.3°C, though conditions began easing; four heat-related deaths were reported, prompting warnings about swimming safety.
• The heat wave has intensified calls for climate action, with scientific studies linking the extreme temperatures to climate change and UN climate talks emphasizing the urgency of mitigation efforts.