Europe Sweltering in Heatwave: Hungary Hits Record 42°C, 5 Deaths in Italy

As the heatwave across Europe shows no signs of cooling down, record-high temperatures are being broken in various regions.

On June 30 (local time), AFP reported that the Hungarian Meteorological Service announced the temperature in Szécsény, near the border with Slovakia, reached 42°C (108°F) that day.

This surpasses the previous record of 41.9°C (107°F) set in 2007.

The previous day, the temperature in Turňa nad Bodvou in southeastern Slovakia reached 41°C (106°F), also exceeding the record of 40.3°C (105°F) observed in 2007.

In Italy, located in Southern Europe, five people have been reported dead due to the heatwave over the past 24 hours.

On this day, red alerts were issued for 25 out of 27 cities across Italy.

Heatwave alerts are categorized by severity into Level 1 (yellow), Level 2 (orange), and the highest level, Level 3 (red).

In France, where more than 1,000 excess deaths have occurred this month due to factors including the heatwave, health authorities stated that there were 300 excess deaths during last month's heatwave as well.

Caroline Semaille, Director General of the French Public Health Agency, added that this figure is "an increase of about 14%" compared to normal levels, though she noted that this accounts for all causes of death and is not necessarily directly linked to rising temperatures.

Semaille explained, "The May heatwave was early and intense compared to seasonal averages," adding that "citizens were exposed to abnormally high temperatures during a time when school and work activities were in full swing."

The consecutive heatwaves that arrived last month and this month were caused by hot air from North Africa becoming trapped over Europe.

The phenomenon has been dubbed an "omega heat dome" because the arrangement of high pressure blocked by low pressure on both sides resembles the Greek letter Ω (omega).
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.