Hospitals, transport networks and public services across Europe are facing mounting pressure as an intense heatwave exposes the continent's limited preparedness for prolonged periods of extreme heat.
At least 101 million people across Europe have experienced temperatures above 35C, Caliber.Az reports, citing Euronews.
The scorching conditions are believed to have contributed to several hundred deaths, including that of a three-year-old child found inside a car in Paris and others who drowned while attempting to escape the heat.
Healthcare systems have been among the hardest hit. In France, emergency departments have recorded a fourfold rise in heat-related admissions, while the number of cardiac arrest cases has increased significantly.
Paris police chief Patrice Faure warned: "We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities. The number of hospitalisations keeps increasing."
As hospitals continue to receive growing numbers of patients, authorities in Paris have imposed the unusual measure of banning evening alcohol sales and public drinking throughout the weekend.
In the United Kingdom, the London Ambulance Service said Wednesday's extreme temperatures resulted in the highest number of life-threatening emergency calls recorded in a single day. Several NHS hospitals also declared critical incidents after cooling system failures disrupted medical equipment, operating theatres and hospital wards, further burdening healthcare services already treating heatstroke, dehydration and vulnerable elderly patients.
The extreme weather is now advancing eastward. Germany is expected to see temperatures climb to around 40C over the weekend, prompting the cancellation of several outdoor events. Rail operator Deutsche Bahn has also advised people to postpone non-essential travel.
Polish authorities have likewise issued heat warnings as western regions of the country prepare for similarly dangerous conditions.
Southern Europe has already suffered significant casualties. Spain's MoMo mortality monitoring system estimated that 212 deaths recorded between Sunday and Wednesday may be linked to the heatwave, while Italian media reported five fatalities, including agricultural workers and a construction worker.
A study published Friday by the World Weather Attribution group concluded that human-driven climate change was "unequivocally" responsible for the severity of the record-breaking temperatures recorded in Britain, France, Spain and Switzerland. Researchers said such extreme June heat would have been "virtually impossible" half a century ago.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the heatwave "has the fingerprints of the climate crisis all over it", warning that episodes of extreme heat will continue to intensify unless the world significantly reduces its use of coal, oil and natural gas.
By Bakhtiyar Abbasov
