Europe is reeling under an unprecedented heatwave, with hospitals on high alert and authorities imposing emergency measures as soaring temperatures strain health services and claim lives across the continent.
French authorities have banned public alcohol consumption in Paris, warning that hospitals are nearing capacity as the capital battles extreme heat. “We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities,” Paris police prefect Patrice Faure said, noting that hospitalisations continue to rise.
The blistering temperatures have put more than 101 million Europeans under conditions exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, with hundreds of millions experiencing temperatures above 30 degrees. Health services in France and the UK reported a sharp increase in emergency calls and hospital visits, particularly involving elderly and vulnerable people suffering from heat-related illnesses.
In Paris alone, officials recorded 25 cardiac arrests in a 24-hour period on Wednesday, more than double the usual number. France also reported a fourfold increase in emergency room visits linked to the heat. London’s ambulance service said Wednesday saw the highest number of life-threatening emergency calls in a single day due to the extreme weather.
The heatwave has already turned deadly. France reported at least three heat-related deaths in the Pas-de-Calais region, while a three-year-old boy died after being trapped inside a family car near Paris. Two other children also died in similar incidents this week. In Spain, officials linked 212 deaths between Sunday and Wednesday to the soaring temperatures, while Italian media reported five heat-related fatalities, including two farmworkers and a construction worker.
The extreme weather has disrupted daily life across Europe. Germany cancelled several outdoor events and warned of possible rail disruptions due to wildfire risks and thunderstorms. Switzerland recorded its hottest June day at 38 degrees Celsius, while the Netherlands issued its first-ever red heat alert.
Scientists attributed the prolonged spell of extreme temperatures to a “heat dome”—a high-pressure system trapping hot air from North Africa over Europe. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the heatwave bore “the fingerprints of the climate crisis,” warning that continued fossil fuel use would make such events increasingly severe and frequent.
While temperatures are expected to ease in western Europe from Friday, eastern parts of the continent remain on high alert as the intense heat is forecast to persist through the weekend.
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