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Europe is sweltering under an intense heatwave, with France issuing an unprecedented number of heat alerts and other countries battling soaring temperatures, wildfires, and environmental challenges. In France, 84 of 96 mainland departments are under an orange alert, the second-highest level, as temperatures climb to dangerous levels. Climate Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher described the situation as "unprecedented," with nearly 200 schools closed or partially closed to protect students. Education Minister Elisabeth Borne is working with regional authorities to ensure the safety of schoolchildren, advising parents to keep children at home where possible.
Southern and eastern Europe are also severely affected. Spain and Portugal recorded their hottest June days ever, with temperatures hitting 46°C in El Granado, Andalucía, and 46.6°C in Mora, Portugal, over the weekend. In Italy, 21 cities, including Rome, Milan, and Venice, are on the highest alert, with a 10% rise in heatstroke cases reported in hospitals. The UK could see one of its hottest June days on Monday, with temperatures possibly exceeding 34°C in parts of England. Germany faces near-record highs of 38°C, while Balkan countries like Croatia, Serbia, and North Macedonia endure temperatures as high as 42°C.
The heatwave has sparked wildfires across the region. In France, fires in the Corbières mountains led to evacuations and a motorway closure, though they have since been contained. Turkey is battling hundreds of wildfires, with a blaze in Seferihisar, near Izmir, destroying 20 homes. Greece and Croatia have also reported destructive fires, with coastal towns near Athens devastated last week.
The extreme heat is straining infrastructure and the environment. Low water levels in the Rhine River are disrupting shipping in Germany, while warmer Adriatic Sea temperatures are encouraging invasive species like the poisonous lionfish and threatening alpine glaciers. The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, warned that the heatwave underscores the urgent need for climate adaptation, highlighting the role of fossil fuels in driving climate change. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes that human-caused climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense.
Professor Richard Allan from the University of Reading explained that rising greenhouse gas levels are intensifying heatwaves by trapping heat and drying soils, turning moderate heat events into extreme ones. As temperatures peak mid-week, emergency services across Europe remain on high alert, urging people to stay indoors and take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses.
