Europe is grappling with a powerful and dangerous heatwave that has sent temperatures soaring, broken historical records, and triggered widespread health alerts. The extreme heat has already claimed lives, pushed hospitals to the brink, and sparked urgent calls for climate adaptation.
In El Granado, a town in southern Spain, temperatures soared to 46°C (114.8°F) on Saturday – the highest ever recorded in the country for the month of June, according to the Spanish national meteorological service. Other cities such as Seville and nearby Andalusian towns also reported highs over 40°C.
Authorities across Spain have activated emergency protocols, urging people to stay indoors during peak hours and to avoid strenuous activity outdoors. Meteorologists warn that this June could go down in history as the hottest on record in the Iberian Peninsula.
The scorching heat extends far beyond Spain. Portugal, Italy, Croatia, and parts of the Western Balkans are also under red alerts due to dangerously high temperatures. Orange alerts have been issued across France, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Slovenia, Serbia, Switzerland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In Barcelona, a female street cleaner collapsed and died shortly after finishing her shift in the intense heat. Local authorities have opened an investigation into the incident, raising concerns about the safety of outdoor workers during such conditions.
Italy is seeing a surge in heat-related emergencies, particularly among the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and those living on the streets. In Naples, hospitals such as “Ospedale dei Colli” have activated special emergency units to treat patients suffering from heatstroke and dehydration.
The city of Bologna has opened seven climate-controlled relief centers offering water, cooling, and shelter. Meanwhile, in Rome, senior citizens over the age of 70 are being granted free access to public swimming pools.
Lisbon has seen a spike in visits to pharmacies due to burns and heat exhaustion, despite repeated public warnings to avoid the sun during peak hours.
The Balkans are also feeling the burn. Serbia recorded its highest June temperature since the 19th century, while Slovenia and North Macedonia reported historic highs – with Skopje hitting 42°C (107.6°F) on Friday.
The oppressive heat is expected to persist and intensify in the coming days, with France, Italy, Germany, and the UK forecast to face extreme temperatures. In London, thermometers could reach 35°C on Monday, a rare spike for the normally temperate British capital.
What Europe is experiencing is not just a seasonal heatwave — it’s a climate emergency in real time. The unprecedented temperatures in multiple countries, the speed at which records are being broken, and the human cost of heat-related deaths paint a stark picture of a continent under climate stress.
Governments are reacting with short-term measures: cooling centers, medical triage protocols, and temporary safety advisories. But experts warn that unless systemic action is taken, these heatwaves will become more frequent, longer-lasting, and deadlier.
The infrastructure in many European cities is not built for such extremes. Older buildings lack air conditioning, public spaces overheat, and vulnerable populations are at the mercy of a changing climate.
While it’s difficult to attribute a single event solely to climate change, scientists are clear: rising global temperatures due to human-driven emissions are making extreme weather events more common and more intense. Europe is now facing the consequences of a warming planet, and it’s doing so with growing urgency.
If current trends continue, this will not be remembered as the summer Europe was hit by a heatwave — but the summer when Europe began to burn.
Source: EL PAÍS