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- October 13, 202618°
- BIST10012,151-0.94%
- USD49.220.00%
- EUR55.21+0.28%
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- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,946-2.06%
- October 13, 202618°
Europe's scorching heatwave kills 300 and affects millions
Extreme heat across Europe has killed nearly 300 people. Temperatures exceeding 35°C have affected over 150 million people, causing disruptions to transportation and education.
The European continent is in the grip of an unprecedented heatwave. Intensifying as of Friday, the scorching heat has surpassed the 35°C threshold, affecting at least 150 million people.
Nearly 300 people have lost their lives due to the extreme heat, while several countries have reported partial disruptions to transportation and education, and official events have been postponed.
Millions of Europeans exposed to high temperatures
According to a report by French news agency AFP, based on data from the German meteorological service and a joint research center, the current heatwave will affect 7 out of 10 Europeans. More than 420 million people on the continent are expected to be exposed to temperatures above 30°C. These figures also align with data from the Austrian-based NGO Climadashboard.
The forecasts significantly exceed the previous day's calculations by the German meteorological institute, which projected only 101 million people would be affected.
Casualties and strain on health systems
The scorching conditions have placed intense pressure on health systems, causing hospital emergency rooms to overflow in many countries. Some governments have had to declare a state of emergency.
According to data from the Spanish Ministry of Health, 212 people died from extreme heat in the country in just four days. The deaths were recorded between last Sunday and Wednesday, with some Spanish cities reaching 44°C, said to be the highest average temperature recorded in the country since the 1950s.
In France, around 20 people have died directly from heat-related causes. Additionally, more than 40 people have drowned since mid-month after rushing in large numbers and unsafely to water sources such as seas and lakes to cool off. In Britain, 15 people have drowned from the same cause, and in Germany, 6.
Germany and France at the epicenter
According to data from European research centers, the heatwave's center of gravity has shifted from France to Germany. In Germany, 82 million people are expected to face temperatures above 30°C, of whom 52 million will see temperatures of 35°C or higher.
In the rest of the continent, temperatures are forecast to exceed 35°C in France, Italy, Hungary, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute issued its first severe heatwave warning on Friday, affecting most of the country.
Event cancellations and emergency measures
In the face of the severe heat, some countries have canceled planned events. Germany announced the postponement of the "Civil Protection Day" events scheduled for Saturday in the southwest. A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Berlin said the decision was made due to the challenging weather conditions and that a new date for the event will likely be set next autumn.
Germany's meteorological service forecasts record temperatures of 37 to 41°C in the southwest, locally reaching up to 42°C. The French energy giant shut down two nuclear reactors on Thursday to protect the environment. The heatwave has also caused power outages and the closure of public facilities in Spain, Italy, and Britain.
Experts point to the 'heat dome'
Meteorology and climate experts attribute this severe heatwave to a phenomenon known as a "heat dome." High-pressure systems trap hot air in the lower layers over the European continent, preventing it from dispersing, leading to a continuous buildup of heat.
Scientists have stressed that greenhouse gas emissions and climate change play a direct role in making such extreme weather events more frequent and intense compared to past decades.
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