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A severe heatwave across Europe has overwhelmed hospitals, disrupted public services, and triggered multiple heat-related deaths, as scientists link the extreme temperatures directly to climate change.
More than 101 million people across the continent have endured temperatures above 35°C for several days, with reports indicating that a few hundred people may have died, including children. Many of the fatalities were linked to drowning incidents as residents attempted to cool off.
Hospitals in France have come under intense pressure, with officials warning of stretched capacity. Paris police chief Patrice Faure said, “We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities. The number of hospitalisations keeps increasing,” highlighting the strain on emergency services.
France recorded a fourfold rise in emergency room visits for heat-related conditions, alongside a surge in cardiac arrests. In London, ambulance services reported the highest number of life-threatening emergency calls in a single day during the peak of the heat.
Authorities in Paris introduced rare public safety measures, including restrictions on evening alcohol sales and consumption in public spaces as temperatures soared beyond 40°C.
A study released by European and international scientists concluded that human-caused climate change was “unequivocally” responsible for the intensity of the heatwave. Researchers noted the conditions would have been “virtually impossible” under pre-industrial climate patterns.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the situation reflects a broader global failure to curb emissions.
“The heatwave has the fingerprints of the climate crisis all over it,” he said, warning that continued reliance on fossil fuels would intensify future extremes.
Meanwhile, Samantha Burgess explained that a “heat dome” over Europe, trapping hot air from North Africa, has been responsible for the sustained temperatures.
In Spain, mortality tracking systems estimated more than 200 heat-linked deaths within days, while Italy reported fatalities among outdoor workers exposed to extreme conditions.
Climate analyst Polly Turton warned that such events are becoming increasingly routine.
“This is the new normal,” she said, noting that many countries, including the UK, remain poorly adapted to prolonged extreme heat.
As the heatwave shifts eastward, authorities across Europe remain on high alert, bracing for continued health risks and infrastructure strain.
