Heat wave shatters temperature records across central and eastern Europe
A severe heat wave set new all-time high temperatures in several European countries, prompting infrastructure disruptions and health alerts.
Record-breaking temperatures were recorded across Europe on Saturday as a heat wave moved from western to central and eastern regions. Germany logged a provisional high of 106°F (41.1°C), the highest ever measured by its national weather service, while Switzerland saw 101.8°F in Basel and Denmark reached 98.6°F in Ødum, the warmest day since records began in 1874. The Czech Republic also reported a new high of 105°F in Doksany.
The extreme heat strained transportation networks. In Germany, sections of the A2 Autobahn near Berlin suffered concrete damage and were closed, and Deutsche Bahn warned against nonessential train travel. > "Germany's transportation infrastructure is being severely affected by the record-breaking heat this weekend," the rail operator said in a statement.
Health services faced increased demand. In France, hospitals activated emergency response plans as emergency departments treated nearly 3,000 patients in a 24-hour period, a rise of more than one-third, with many patients over 75. A nursing home in Dormagen, Germany, was evacuated after interior temperatures reached 95°F; a resident died, though the cause remains under investigation.
Authorities across the region issued heat alerts, with three-quarters of France placed under a red warning as temperatures topped 104°F in several locations, including Paris.