Latest developments in Europe’s heatwave

Here are the latest developments in Europe’s heatwave. Scientists have shown that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming driven by humans burning fossil fuels, and warn they are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense. New Czech markThe Czech Republic broke another temperature record, hitting 41.9C at Doksany north of Prague, the meteorological institute CHMI said.”This is the first time we have ever registered a temperature of 41 degrees in our official weather station network,” CHMI added on X.

Poland breaks record Poland broke its all-time heat record with temperatures reaching 40.5C in the western town of Slubice, a spokeswoman for the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) told AFP. Germany hits 41.7CGermany set a new temperature record at 41.7C, according to preliminary data from the German weather service (DWD) told AFP. It was recorded at a station in Coschen, near the Polish border,  breaking the previous record of 41.5C set just a day earlier in Drewitz.

WHO logs 1,300 Europe deathsThe World Health Organization said more than 1,300 excess deaths had been recorded in Europe since June 21 in connection with the record-breaking heatwave. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that heat stress was a “silent killer”. He called on European countries to “implement heat health action plans” to help safeguard health in the face of climate change.

Cooling by cannonThe Berlin police used water cannons to help residents of the capital cool off on Saturday and Sunday. German night breaks recordThe temperature in Kubschuetz in the east did not fall below 29.4C during the night, according to the German weather service (DWD), making it the warmest night since records began almost 150 years ago.191 million facing 35C heatAt least 191 million people are forecast to endure temperatures of at least 35C on Sunday in Europe, with the heat particularly intense in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, according to AFP estimates.

Belgian storm deathOne person died in Belgium overnight when a tree fell on his vehicle just outside Brussels, media said, after violent storms hit much of the country. France tallies 1,000 extra deathsFrance’s national health agency has tallied around 1,000 more deaths than usual since June 24, warning that the figure will rise further. Many of the extra fatalities are among those aged 65 and upwards, the agency said, after logging a 40 percent rise in the number of people dying at home.

Fashion row in ParisA giant artificial wave at the Louis Vuitton show in Paris Men’s Fashion Week has been attracting heat-related controversy. Internet users accused the brand of wasting water during the heatwave. But LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton, insisted the water would be “re-injected into the sewerage system”. Rock festival cancelledThe 30th edition of the Garorock music festival in Marmande just south of Bordeaux was called off Sunday after the prefecture issued a thunderstorm warning. Around 100,000 tickets had been sold for the event, which will take a financial hit estimated at more than three million euros.

Pride postponedParis Pride was postponed after the police said they would close it down to ease the burden on health services. Munich Pride, meanwhile, went ahead in sweltering temperatures of around 36C.burs-rh/jj

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 18:00:30 GMT