Paris, France. Health authorities across Europe were on high alert on Friday as a heatwave intensified across the continent, prompting emergency measures including alcohol bans in France and road closures in Germany. Scientists said the heatwave was the worst recorded for Europe, where the climate is changing faster than anywhere else.
Record temperatures across Europe
From Britain and France to Germany, Italy, Austria and Serbia, countries faced unusually high temperatures as the heat spread across the region. Temperatures were likely past their peak in France and Britain, where June records were broken, but in Italy the heat was expected to intensify into the weekend, bringing the summer’s first temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius.
Deaths and emergency measures in France
At least 55 deaths linked to the heatwave were reported in France, where temperatures in Paris reached 40.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Although temperatures were expected to ease, authorities prepared for more casualties.
Paris police asked organisers of major events, including the Solidays music festival, to cancel them. Organisers of the Pride festival said it would be rescheduled.
In France, the state-owned power utility EDF said it would spend 80 million euros on cooling systems for schools, kindergartens and day-care centres.
Closures and damage across the continent
Across Europe, cultural landmarks were forced to close and farming was affected by the heat.
In eastern Germany, extreme temperatures caused the surface of the A2 motorway to buckle and rupture across several lanes on Thursday evening, according to the BZ newspaper. Up to 30 vehicles were damaged, two people suffered minor injuries and the highway was closed.
Warnings in Britain, the Netherlands and Serbia
Britain’s Met Office extended a red heat alert into Friday for a large area of southern England, the first time such warnings had been issued for three consecutive days.
A rare code red alert for extreme heat was issued for almost the whole of the Netherlands, where many schools were closed as temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius were forecast.
In Serbia, authorities issued an amber alert with temperatures of around 36 degrees Celsius expected. Officials in Belgrade warned people to drink water and remain indoors during the hottest hours.
Consumer and market impact
Fans sold rapidly in Britain, while Asian air conditioning manufacturers reported a rise in European sales.