IN BRIEF
A severe heatwave gripping Europe is compelling authorities to enforce new measures, broadcast advisories, and adjust everyday practices as temperatures soar toward unprecedented levels.
France is bracing for peak temperatures reaching 41°C, with 35 out of its 96 departments anticipated to be placed under red heatwave warnings, spanning from the southwest, through Paris, and reaching Burgundy.
Following a crisis meeting, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu revealed measures to limit alcohol consumption at public gatherings, including the widespread Fête de la Musique festivities across the regions facing the heatwave.
In addition, Parisian authorities have mandated that public parks remain open 24/7 to provide a respite for residents seeking relief from the oppressive temperatures.
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Restrictions and warnings spread across Europe
Elsewhere, heat alerts were issued across most of Germany as temperatures approached 38C.
Germany’s national weather service warned that a combination of high temperatures and humidity could increase the risk of severe thunderstorms.
In Spain, authorities closed a World Cup fan zone in Madrid’s Plaza de Colón that had been set up with giant screens for supporters to watch Spain’s match against Saudi Arabia.
Parts of Spain remain under heat warnings, with some outdoor sporting and cultural activities suspended.
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In Italy, authorities expanded heat warnings across several cities as temperatures pushed into the high 30s.
Daily life reshaped by extreme heat
Across southern Europe, the heat has reportedly begun altering how residents and tourists move through cities.
In Rome, visitors queued in the sun outside the Colosseum while others sought relief in cooler underground spaces beneath the remains of the Temple of Claudius.
In Bologna, among Italy’s hottest cities, people cooled off at the Fountain of Neptune and sheltered beneath shaded porticoes.
Transport networks and public services have also adjusted.
French authorities increased staffing across rail services amid concerns that extreme temperatures could affect infrastructure, including tracks and electrical systems.
Officials have also tightened monitoring around water supplies and bushfire conditions.
The government ordered hundreds of schools to close ahead of expected peak temperatures.
Heatwaves carry growing economic and health costs
Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense across Europe, increasing risks to public health and economic activity.
Bank of France governor Emmanuel Moulin said the short-term impact on growth was mixed, with reduced productivity offset in part by higher energy demand, but warned that prolonged periods of extreme heat weigh on economies over time.
Health authorities have also renewed warnings around heat exhaustion and heat stroke, particularly for older people and vulnerable communities.
The heatwave comes more than two decades after France’s deadly 2003 summer, which claimed around 15,000 lives and changed the country’s approach to managing extreme heat.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
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