Europe heatwave shifts east as excess deaths mount

PARIS: A deadly heatwave moved further into central and eastern Europe on Sunday, leaving hundreds of millions of people facing intense temperatures even as overnight storms brought temporary relief to parts of western Europe, especially France and Belgium.

At least 191 million people across Europe were expected to experience temperatures above 35C during the day, while around 381 million were set to see temperatures exceed 30C, based on forecasts from the German Meteorological Service and population data.

The World Health Organisation said it had recorded more than 1,300 excess deaths in Europe since June 21. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that 150 million people were currently living under extreme heat conditions.

"Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling"

He also warned that Europe is warming faster than any other continent.

Records broken across central Europe

The heat remained particularly severe in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland as temperatures climbed and records were broken. The World Weather Attribution group said the current episode was the most severe heatwave ever recorded in Europe and that such extreme conditions this early in summer would have been virtually impossible without climate change.

New all-time temperature records were set in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, while June records were also broken in the United Kingdom and Switzerland. In Poland, the national meteorological institute recorded 40.5C in the western town of Slubice. Germany registered a new national high of 41.7C in Coschen near the Polish border, exceeding a record set only a day earlier. In the Czech Republic, 41.1C was first recorded in Doksany, north of Prague, before that figure was later revised upward to 41.9C.

France sees brief respite but fears remain

Storms overnight brought some relief in France after several days of temperatures nearing 40C, though the weather also caused damage elsewhere. Near Brussels, a man died when a tree fell onto his car.

In France, the highest-level heat alerts were due to be lifted on Sunday evening, but millions were still living through very hot conditions. With memories of the 2003 heatwave, which killed around 15,000 people in the country, authorities were concerned about a rising toll.

France’s national health agency said it had counted around 1,000 more deaths than expected since June 24 and warned that the number was likely to rise further. Many of the deaths involved people aged 65 and over. Health Minister Stephanie Rist said France would probably avoid a repeat of the devastation seen in 2003 because care homes for older people were now better prepared.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez defended the authorities’ handling of the crisis. "This is not a fiasco — we were prepared."

France’s weather agency, France-Meteo, said it was already assessing the possibility of another heatwave in July. "The scenario of strong heat in the country is becoming more probable"

The intensity of any new heat episode was still uncertain.

Scientists warn of wider impacts

French researchers said the consequences of rising temperatures were also being seen in the natural environment. The National Centre for Scientific Research said warming conditions were affecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Speaking from Wimereux in northern France, CNRS research director Gregory Beaugrand said changes in the temperature of the English Channel were disrupting the food chain.

"fish that like cold waters are disappearing"

French paleoclimatologist Jean Jouzel told Tribune newspaper that he feared attention would move elsewhere once the heatwave subsides, while urging the public to take scientific warnings seriously. "People are closing their eyes — but it is extremely serious."