ROME / MADRID / PARIS – An early-summer heatwave has swept across Europe with deadly intensity, claiming at least eight lives and setting new temperature records in multiple countries as emergency services struggle to cope with rising heat-related incidents and environmental hazards.
Italy, France, and Spain are among the hardest-hit nations, issuing red alerts and facing escalating public health concerns. Italy placed 18 cities under red alert on Wednesday, warning of extreme temperatures particularly dangerous for the elderly and chronically ill. In Germany, forecasters predicted highs of 40°C (104°F), making it the hottest day of the year.
According to Spanish officials, four heat-related deaths have been reported across the country. Two people perished in a wildfire in Catalonia, while the regions of Extremadura and Córdoba also reported casualties linked to soaring temperatures. French Health Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed two additional deaths in France, where at least 300 people were hospitalized amid sweltering conditions. In Italy, two elderly men died on a Sardinian beach, likely due to heat exhaustion, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
Meteorological agencies across Europe have issued continued red alerts, while health officials warn that the worst may be yet to come. “In the coming days, we’ll begin to see the delayed impact on vulnerable groups — particularly the elderly,” Minister Vautrin said.
In Turkey, where wildfires forced nearly 50,000 people to evacuate earlier this week, officials reported the blazes were mostly under control by midweek. Meanwhile, in Spain, Tuesday’s fire in Catalonia scorched an area spanning 40 kilometers and destroyed several farms before being contained.
Beyond the human toll, the scorching temperatures are straining infrastructure. Switzerland’s Axpo utility company was forced to shut down one nuclear reactor and reduce output at another due to elevated river temperatures, which impaired the plants’ cooling systems. Authorities in France and Italy warned that unstable weather could result in dangerous thunderstorms, especially in mountain regions.
Severe weather has already caused travel disruptions. In the French Alps, violent storms triggered mudslides that cut off rail service between Paris and Milan. In Paris, the upper floor of the Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors on Tuesday due to the extreme heat. Belgium’s iconic Atomium structure in Brussels also closed early — its third early shutdown this week.
The heatwave is being attributed to the formation of a “heat dome” over the continent — a high-pressure system trapping warm air, intensified by already warmed seas. Scientists say this weather phenomenon is part of a broader pattern fueled by climate change. According to the UN Environment Programme’s Executive Director Inger Andersen, “Extreme heat is no longer unusual. It is our new climate reality — one that threatens both lives and livelihoods.”
Economic consequences are also becoming evident. In the UK, popular bakery chain Greggs warned that customer footfall had dropped in recent days due to unusually hot weather, and that its annual profits may fall below expectations. A report by Allianz Research noted that each day of extreme heat could shave off up to half a percentage point from regional economic growth — equivalent, they said, to the economic impact of a half-day general strike.
In Germany, lakes and public pools were packed as citizens sought relief from the heat. Many schools across the country closed early, while firefighters were deployed to battle multiple forest fires in the eastern states of Brandenburg and Saxony.
June 2024 has already gone down as Spain’s hottest June on record. France is also experiencing its warmest June since the deadly 2003 heatwave. With the summer still ahead, the question remains whether Europe’s infrastructure — and its most vulnerable populations — can withstand what appears to be a new normal.
