European Heatwave Shifts East: Germany Hits 41.3°C as Casualties Rise

The heatwave that has been battering Western Europe, including France, is expanding its reach into Central Europe.

In Germany, temperatures in western regions surpassed 40°C (104°F) on June 26, local time, breaking the record for the highest temperature of the year. Across Europe, outdoor events are being canceled, and the number of casualties continues to rise.

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the temperature in Saarbrücken, near the French border, reached 41.3°C (106°F) on the afternoon of June 26.

This surpassed the previous annual record of 41.2°C (106°F) observed in Duisburg and Tönisvorst on July 25, 2019.

Until now, temperatures in Germany had never exceeded 40°C (104°F) in June. The previous June record was 39.6°C (103°F), recorded in Bernburg on June 30, 2019.

On June 26, Germany saw June temperature records broken at 147 weather stations, with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) in various western areas, including Bad Kreuznach (40.7°C / 105°F) and Trier (40.1°C / 104°F).

The German Weather Service predicted that as the European heatwave moves eastward, temperatures in some eastern regions could rise to 42°C (108°F) on June 28.

The weather service explained, "The center of the high-pressure system is slowly moving toward Eastern Europe. Humid and extremely hot air masses are flowing into Germany along the edge of this high-pressure system."

European meteorological authorities call this an "omega heat dome" because the shape formed by the high-pressure system trapping hot air, blocked by low-pressure systems on both sides, resembles the Greek letter Ω (omega).

Switzerland also saw June temperature records broken in various locations for the second consecutive day.

According to the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss), the temperature in Basel, which borders France and Germany, rose to 38.8°C (102°F) on June 26, and the village of Buchs near the eastern Alps also set a June record, reaching 37.8°C (100°F).

The capital, Bern, reached 36.0°C (97°F), setting a new June record for the second day in a row.

Most marathon races, amateur soccer matches, and LGBTQ festivals scheduled across Germany this weekend have been canceled. Additionally, parts of the A2 autobahn, which crosses Germany from east to west, have been closed due to the road surface cracking from the heat.

The Thuringian state government has deployed snowplows to spray water on roads to cool them down.

The Beznau Nuclear Power Plant in Switzerland temporarily suspended reactor operations on June 26 as the water temperature of the Aare River, used for cooling, exceeded 25°C (77°F).

The plant stated that discharging cooling water back into the river could further raise the water temperature, posing a risk of mass fish deaths and damage to the ecosystem.

The heatwave remains intense in Western Europe, with the Netherlands, usually known for its cool weather, also issuing a red alert.

In Belgium, where an orange alert is in effect, temperatures soared to 35.3°C (96°F) on June 26, breaking the all-time record for the third consecutive day since June 24.

The United Kingdom also saw temperatures reach 37.3°C (99°F) in some areas on June 26, marking the third straight day of record-breaking June temperatures.

In Belgium, train breakdowns caused by the heatwave disrupted the operation of two Eurostar trains connecting major Western European cities.

A Eurostar train traveling from Cologne, Germany, to Paris, France, stopped near Leuven on the morning of June 26 due to technical issues, causing significant inconvenience for 400 passengers. Later that afternoon, a Eurostar train from Paris to Amsterdam, Netherlands, stopped near Antwerp due to power supply problems.

Furthermore, the annual Waterloo battle reenactment in Belgium was canceled, and a historic techno music festival in the Netherlands was called off.

According to AFP, the Waterloo battle reenactment organizing committee stated, "We are canceling this year's event for safety reasons," adding, "The safety of the public, participants, volunteers, and emergency personnel is a non-negotiable issue."

In the small town of Waterloo, located south of Brussels, a European coalition led by British commander the Duke of Wellington dealt a decisive defeat to the French army led by Napoleon Bonaparte after a fierce battle on June 18, 1815.

Every year on the last weekend of June, hundreds of participants dressed in Napoleonic-era costumes have reenacted the battle in Waterloo, captivating history enthusiasts from around the world.

The Defqon.1 techno music festival, which was scheduled to be held for four days starting June 25 in Biddinghuizen, central Netherlands, was also canceled.

Although the Netherlands is typically cool in the summer due to its high latitude, the Dutch meteorological agency issued an unusual red alert on June 25 as the heatwave persisted for several days.

In Paris, France, the "Paris Pride" LGBTQ march scheduled for this weekend was canceled following a ban by the Paris police.

With temperatures in some French cities soaring past 40°C (104°F), AFP reported that hospitals in Paris are struggling to cope with a surge in emergency patients suffering from heat-related illnesses.

Major tourist attractions have also been closing one after another.

London's Tower Bridge announced it would be closed until June 26 for the safety and health of visitors and staff, and the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum and the British Museum announced that some galleries might be closed.

The German Bundestag decided to close its glass dome, a popular tourist attraction, over the weekend.

Train delays are continuing, and the BBC reported that firefighters are struggling to extinguish wildfires spreading in areas such as Derbyshire and Greater Manchester in the UK.

The UK is also facing a combination of heatwave, storms, and flood warnings.

A yellow storm warning was issued for northern England and Northern Ireland until the evening of June 26, and for Scotland until the early hours of June 27.

Early on the morning of June 26, a nursing home in Glastonbury caught fire after being struck by lightning, and one person was transported to the hospital.

The number of casualties continues to rise.

French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu stated in an interview with Franceinfo that a total of 55 people had drowned as of the evening of June 25.

Most of them died after jumping into rivers or lakes to escape the heat.

In Berlin, Germany, a 17-year-old died at Krumme Lanke lake on June 25.

In the UK, a teenage boy also died after entering a lake in the English Midlands.

London emergency services stated that emergency calls have increased by 50% compared to normal levels.

In Marseille, France, an 18-month-old infant who suffered heatstroke after being left in a car heated by the sun on June 23 was declared dead after hospital treatment.

The temperature in Marseille had reached 33°C (91°F) at the time.

Previously, a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old died in southern France on June 22, and a 3-year-old boy died in a car in Paris on June 24.

The Carlos III Health Institute in Spain stated that there have been 327 heat-related deaths since June 21.

In Spain, the heatwave peaked on June 23, with temperatures in the northern region of Cantabria reaching 43.7°C (111°F).

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.