Europe Battles Heatwave Exceeding 40°C, Deploying Water Cannons

[Anchor]

Europe is battling a heatwave with temperatures hovering around 40°C (104°F). Record-breaking temperatures are being reported across the continent, and authorities are even deploying water cannons and artificial mist to combat the extreme heat.

Reporter Kim Young-ah has the story.

[Reporter]

Water cannons have appeared at Potsdamer Platz, a famous landmark in Berlin, Germany.

While typically used for crowd control during protests, today they are being used to suppress the heatwave.

[Thank you.]

Citizens, dressed in light clothing, jump into the water jets to cool off.

In Prague, Czech Republic, trucks are spraying water throughout the city all day, and in Budapest, Hungary, artificial mist has been set up in the square in front of the parliament building.

The city of Paris, France, has opened parts of its canals as swimming areas and installed heat relief shelters throughout the city.

This decision was made because air conditioning penetration in homes is only around 20 percent, making it difficult for many residents to endure the heat indoors.

[Françoise Vernot/Resident of Paris 18th Arrondissement: I live in an attic. It is 33°C (91°F) inside my home, so it is difficult.]

Due to the record-breaking heat, all-time high temperature records are being shattered across Europe.

On June 27 local time, the mercury in Drewitz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, soared to 41.5°C (107°F). The Czech Republic in Eastern Europe recorded 40.6°C (105°F), and Switzerland, known for the Alps, reached 39°C (102°F), marking their highest temperatures ever.

In the Nordic country of Denmark, temperatures climbed to 37°C (99°F), setting a new record high for the first time in 152 years.

AFP reported that 193 million people across Europe are exposed to extreme heat of 35°C (95°F) or higher.

This heatwave is caused by a heat dome phenomenon, where hot air from Northern Africa has become trapped over Europe.

The World Meteorological Organization forecasts that this heat dome will move through Central Europe, hit Eastern Europe, and then shift toward the Balkan Peninsula, including Bulgaria and Greece.

Video Editing: Lee Seung-yeol
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.