A severe and record-breaking heatwave is currently gripping large parts of Europe, causing widespread disruption, significant mortality, and straining infrastructure, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in several Central and Eastern European countries, affecting approximately 130 million people and contributing to over 1,300 excess deaths reported by the WHO since June 21, with France and Spain particularly hard-hit. This ongoing extreme weather event, exacerbated by climate change according to scientists who describe Europe as the fastest-warming continent, is exposing the continent's vulnerability due to homes and infrastructure not being designed for high temperatures, leading to issues like melting roads and traffic signals, a low prevalence of air conditioning, and prompting discussions about necessary upgrades and emergency measures, including water cannons and government aid for cooling systems in hospitals, while also sparking political criticism regarding disaster response in countries like France.

A severe and record-breaking heatwave is currently gripping large parts of Europe, causing widespread disruption, significant mortality, and straining infrastructure, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in several Central and Eastern European countries, affecting approximately 130 million people and contributing to over 1,300 excess deaths reported by the WHO since June 21, with France and Spain particularly hard-hit. This ongoing extreme weather event, exacerbated by climate change according to scientists who describe Europe as the fastest-warming continent, is exposing the continent's vulnerability due to homes and infrastructure not being designed for high temperatures, leading to issues like melting roads and traffic signals, a low prevalence of air conditioning, and prompting discussions about necessary upgrades and emergency measures, including water cannons and government aid for cooling systems in hospitals, while also sparking political criticism regarding disaster response in countries like France.

A severe and record-breaking heatwave is currently gripping large parts of Europe, causing widespread disruption, significant mortality, and straining infrastructure, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in several Central and Eastern European countries, affecting approximately 130 million people and contributing to over 1,300 excess deaths reported by the WHO since June 21, with France and Spain particularly hard-hit. This ongoing extreme weather event, exacerbated by climate change according to scientists who describe Europe as the fastest-warming continent, is exposing the continent's vulnerability due to homes and infrastructure not being designed for high temperatures, leading to issues like melting roads and traffic signals, a low prevalence of air conditioning, and prompting discussions about necessary upgrades and emergency measures, including water cannons and government aid for cooling systems in hospitals, while also sparking political criticism regarding disaster response in countries like France.

A sweltering heatwave has taken over a large part of Europe, disrupting daily life and leading to numerous deaths, water shortages, and infrastructure damage.

The heat has broken weather records with all-time high temperatures being recorded in multiple countries like Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Slovakia recorded a high of 41 degrees Celsius on Monday, and Czechia reached 41.9 °C.

About 130 million people in Central and Eastern Europe faced extreme temperatures of more than 35 degreee Celucius on Monday.

Hungary is facing an acute water shortage in many parts. About 22 cities in Italy issued red heat warnings. Meanwhile, in Croatia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, reported.

France was one of the hardest hit, with a large number of deaths recorded.

The WHO recorded more than 1,300 excess deaths since June 21. In France, officials said that the heatwave contributed to more than 1000 excess deaths, while Spain’s health institute recorded more than 800 additional deaths.

The heatwave that started last week has led to the most severe temperatures recorded on the continent.

It is still ongoing, and with weather forecasts predicting another peak around July 10.

A surge of heat is expected from July 5 in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and parts of the UK, according to the Italian.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average.”

Much of the conversation has also been shifted to cooling systems in European homes and infrastructure.

Most European homes, workplaces and schools are not built for higher temperatures.  “Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ – and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures,” Ghebreyesus said.

The infrastructure in Europe is also being debated, as electricity transformers and street traffic signals were seen melting in the heat. Videos also show the roads melting under the severe weather. Experts say that central and eastern Europe is dominated by socialist era prefabricated concrete panel blocks designed entirely around heating, with heavy concrete walls that trap heat and have no ventilation for the summer, The Guardian reported.

The use of air conditioning is also low, as the continent prioritised reaching climate goals and sustainability for decades. Air conditioning is also seen as an ‘American thing’, and homes in France especially, prioritise good architecture and ventilation rather than mechanical cooling. According to the International Energy Agency, only around 20 per cent of European households have air conditioning, compared with roughly 90 per cent in the United States.

Those numbers may be changing, as air conditioning and fans saw a huge boost in sales this week across several regions.

In Germany and parts of France, authorities used water cannons to cool off citizens in the scorching temperatures.

The French government has been receiving criticism for its handling of the heatwave. France's Green party said that it plans to bring a motion of no confidence against the government, accusing it of failing to respond to the heatwaves. French Prime Minister, Sebastian Lecornu, announced a €100 million ($114 million) package to improve cooling systems in hospitals and support measures aimed at keeping healthcare facilities operational during extreme heat, AP reported.

In Ukraine, emergency power outages were enforced in response to the intense heat with temperatures between 35 and 38 degrees Celsius.

According to the World Weather Attribution group of scientists, the heatwave in Europe would have been  "virtually impossible" at this time of year without climate change. Meteorologists said that prolonged heat is being caused by an Omega block weather pattern, which occurs when a high-pressure system becomes trapped between two low-pressure systems. 

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