A record-breaking heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with France facing an unprecedented number of heat alerts. Currently, 84 of France’s 96 mainland departments are under orange alert—the second-highest warning level. France’s Climate Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher described the situation as “unprecedented.”
Other European countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, the UK, and Balkan nations, are also experiencing extreme heat conditions. This prolonged heatwave has resulted in temperatures exceeding 46°C in parts of Spain and Portugal, breaking June temperature records.
Europe Activates Emergency Measures as Heatwave Closes Schools, Sparks Fires, Strains Infrastructure
Governments across Europe have activated emergency protocols to safeguard public health. Medical services are on high alert, and public advisories urge people to remain indoors and stay hydrated. In France, nearly 200 schools have been fully or partially closed, with Education Minister Elisabeth Borne coordinating with local authorities to protect schoolchildren.
Outdoor events like music festivals are being closely monitored, with festival-goers facing blistering heat. Forest fires have also erupted, particularly in France’s southern Corbières mountain range, prompting evacuations and temporary motorway closures.
Italy has placed 21 cities, including Rome, Milan, and Venice, on the highest alert. Hospital emergency departments have seen a notable increase in heatstroke cases. In the UK, temperatures are reaching near-record levels for June, while Spain continues to battle what may become its hottest June on record.
Similar conditions persist in Portugal, with the capital Lisbon, among the hardest-hit areas. Germany is expecting temperatures near 38°C, affecting major transportation routes like the Rhine River, where low water levels are disrupting cargo shipping.
Balkans Scorched by Record Temperatures, Wildfires, and Climate Change’s Expanding Impacts
The Balkans are also enduring extreme heat, with several nations recording all-time temperature highs. Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and North Macedonia have all reported record-breaking temperatures over the past week.
Wildfires have erupted in Croatia and Turkey, with firefighters struggling to control blazes near populated areas like Izmir. In Greece, fires near Athens have devastated homes, and residents in coastal towns have been forced to evacuate.
Beyond the immediate health and safety concerns, the heatwave underscores the broader impacts of climate change. Rising sea and air temperatures are accelerating the spread of invasive species like lionfish in the Adriatic Sea and placing further stress on already retreating alpine glaciers. The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, emphasized that climate-related extreme weather events threaten fundamental human rights.
Experts, including Professor Richard Allan from the University of Reading, warn that human-induced climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense, with long-term consequences for ecosystems, economies, and public health.
