More than 20 heatwave-related deaths, including children, have been reported across Europe
Europe remained under the grip of a severe heatwave on Monday, with authorities in several countries issuing red alerts, closing schools, disrupting transport services and warning residents to avoid prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.France was among the worst affected countries, with temperatures expected to reach 43 degrees Celsius in parts of the southwest. The authorities placed dozens of regions on the highest levels of heat alert and closed or reduced working hours in thousands of schools. Britain issued a rare red warning for extreme heat, while Italy, Spain and Belgium also recorded unusually high temperatures.The harsh conditions have been linked to multiple deaths across the continent.
In France, two children, aged two and four, were found dead inside a family car in the southern town of Carpentras, where investigators said a heat wave was the most likely cause. French authorities also reported that 13 people, including a 13-year-old girl, drowned over the weekend and overnight while seeking relief from the heat, while three elderly people died of causes related to the high temperatures.In Germany, police said that five people died in swimming accidents over the weekend amid hot weather.
French Health Minister Stephanie Rest warned that the country faces several more days of extreme temperatures. “We are headed for, at least, several days of very hot weather,” she added. “We don’t know when temperatures will start to drop.”The heat wave also strained infrastructure. Rail services were reduced in parts of France and Belgium, schools closed early in Britain, and power utilities in Italy reported increased pressure on power grids as the use of air conditioners rose.Scientists say the recent heatwave reflects a broader warming trend driven by climate change. A study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change found that exposure to dangerous heat stress has increased dramatically worldwide over the past five decades.According to the research, the proportion of the world’s population experiencing at least one day of severe heat stress each year has risen from 16% in the 1970s to 22% by 2024, exposing nearly a billion additional people to potentially dangerous conditions. The researchers also found that heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense and longer-lasting, with temperatures in Europe rising faster.
