Eastern Europe shatters temperature records amid extreme conditions
A powerful heatwave continued to grip Europe, setting new temperature records across the continent and placing increasing pressure on public services, energy networks and emergency responders.
Slovakia registered its highest-ever temperature of 41 degrees Celsius in the village of Turna nad Bodvou near Kosice on Monday. Meanwhile, Czechia recorded a historic 41.9C in Doksany on Sunday, surpassing the country’s previous record of 40.4C set in 2021. Weather officials described both the intensity and duration of the heatwave as unprecedented.
Hungary also experienced scorching conditions, with temperatures reaching 41.8C, narrowly missing its all-time national record. Consequently, Prime Minister Peter Magyar urged citizens to prepare for the hottest days of the current weather system. Authorities instructed public-sector employees to work remotely, while private employers were encouraged to adopt similar measures.
According to reports, more than 130 million people across Central and Eastern Europe endured temperatures above 35C on Monday.
Health risks grow as heat strains infrastructure across the continent
Elsewhere, Italy placed 22 cities under red heat alerts, while Croatia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina battled wildfires fuelled by the prolonged heat. Furthermore, Ukraine introduced emergency power outages as soaring temperatures increased electricity demand and strained the national grid.
The World Health Organization reported more than 1,300 excess deaths linked to the heatwave since June 21. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average, describing heat stress as a silent killer.
Although temperatures have started easing in parts of Western Europe, meteorologists forecast another surge of extreme heat from July 5 across France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and parts of the United Kingdom. Scientists also warned that the unusually intense June heat highlights the growing impact of climate change on Europe.
