Paris, France. Parts of Europe were forecast to see temperatures near or above 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while storms moved into other areas and caused further disruption. France reported 1,000 excess deaths during the record-breaking heatwave.
France reports excess deaths
The French public health agency said most of the heat-related fatalities involved older people. It warned that the number was expected to rise as more information became available about deaths in residential care and private homes.
Heatwave impact across Europe
Scientists said the heatwave, which began on June 20, was the worst recorded in Europe. The extreme conditions have disrupted power generation, damaged infrastructure and overwhelmed healthcare systems.
Climate change link
According to scientists, the heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change. They said this week’s soaring night-time temperatures were 100 times more likely than they would have been just two decades ago.
Disruption in Germany and France
Temperatures were forecast to near or top 40 C in Germany, Poland and Italy, while storms broke out in parts of France, affecting travel and power supplies. In Germany, train services were reduced on a major rail line in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia and trams were suspended in the eastern city of Leipzig.
Rivers, power and agriculture affected
The heat has depleted and warmed Europe’s rivers, creating problems for electricity generation and agriculture. Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant will likely need to reduce output again on Sunday because of the high temperature of the Danube River, which it uses as a coolant.
Italy’s Po River under pressure
In Italy, the flow of the Po has dwindled, allowing seawater to advance as far as 18 km inland and raising fears for agriculture and protected wetlands in the river delta.
Heat-related drownings reported
Dozens of people seeking relief from the heat are reported to have drowned.
