Europe is experiencing one of the worst heatwaves in years. Especially in France, temperatures are rising to 40–42 degrees Celsius in many areas. Authorities have declared the highest red alert level for 49 districts, affecting more than 35 million people. This heat not only causes problems during the day, but also persists at night, leading to increased use of natural bodies of water to cool down.
However, this cooling-off ended in a tragic weekend. According to the French disaster protection center, at least 13 people drowned while swimming over the weekend. On Sunday alone, ten people died, while in the Île-de-France region a further two deaths were reported in the evening, including a 13-year-old girl. The extreme heat drove many people to unsecured bodies of water, which led to the tragedy.
The spokesperson for the civil protection authority, Jérôme Boulanger, issued an urgent appeal for people to cool off by taking showers instead of entering rivers or lakes without supervision. When attempting to rescue people from drowning, professional help should also be sought via the emergency numbers 18 or 112 in order to prevent further accidents.
Public transport in France is also unable to escape the heat. In Paris and the surrounding area, around 10% of all train services have been canceled as a precaution, as the high temperatures could damage old tracks and equipment. To support passengers, more than 400,000 bottles of water are being distributed to them.
The school system is also affected: The Ministry of Education has ordered the closure or adjustment of hours for almost 2,700 schools to protect students from heat damage. Schools are often not sufficiently air-conditioned to cope with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, forcing children to stay at home.
Previous record temperatures have also been exceeded in Spain. In San Sebastián, 40 degrees were recorded, almost twice the usual average. Despite sunset, it remains unbearably hot, with night-time temperatures between 25–30 degrees Celsius that interfere with sleep.
Not only people, but also animals are suffering under these extreme conditions. An animal rescue center in Belgium, Creaves, has taken in more than 150 heat-stricken wild animals in just the last three days, mainly swallows and sparrows. In some attics, temperatures rise to 50–60 degrees Celsius, forcing many young birds to leave the nest.
Climate data shows that Europe is now the continent with the strongest increase in average temperatures compared with the historical norm. With a rise of 4.1 degrees Celsius, Europe clearly surpasses both Asia and North America. This heatwave is not a temporary phenomenon, but a clear signal of the dramatically advancing climate change worldwide.
