Europe on red alert as record heatwave pushes health systems to brink

Health authorities across Europe remained on high alert Friday as an unprecedented heatwave continued to sweep across the continent, forcing governments to introduce emergency measures ranging from alcohol restrictions and event cancellations to transport advisories.Scientists described the spell of extreme weather, which began on June 20, as the most severe heatwave ever recorded in Europe. They warned that the continent, which is warming faster than any other region on Earth, is facing increasingly frequent and intense heat extremes driven by climate change.France and Britain remained among the worst-affected countries, with both experiencing record-breaking June temperatures. Italy was expected to face even hotter conditions through the weekend, with temperatures forecast to touch 40 degrees Celsius.Paris recorded a June high of 40.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Although temperatures were forecast to ease slightly, authorities continued preparing for additional heat-related casualties.Across Europe, the soaring temperatures have forced the closure of cultural landmarks, disrupted farming activities and placed growing pressure on public services. In Britain, doctors warned that the heat was beginning to affect vital hospital equipment, including MRI scanners.

A man delivers plastic bottles of water during a hot day in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, June 20, 2026.

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Britain and Netherlands issue highest alerts

French police urged organisers of major outdoor events, including the Solidays music festival, to call them off because of the dangerous weather. Organisers of the city’s Pride festival also announced that celebrations would be rescheduled.Germany reported damage to infrastructure after the intense heat caused sections of the A2 motorway to buckle and crack across several lanes. Austria’s national railway operator also warned that soaring temperatures could cause rail tracks to deform in the coming days.Britain’s Met Office extended its red heat alert across large parts of southern and eastern England into a third consecutive day, the first time such an alert has remained in place for that long. The country also recorded its hottest June day for the third day in a row after temperatures reached 36.9 degrees Celsius.Hundreds of schools remained shut while emergency services in London reported a 50 per cent increase in calls for assistance. Police also confirmed that a teenage boy died after entering a lake in central England during the hot weather.

A man keeps his legs dry as he cycles through standing water in London, as a heat wave is predicted Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP)

The Netherlands issued a red heat warning covering almost the entire country, with temperatures expected to approach 40 degrees Celsius. Several schools were closed as authorities advised people to avoid unnecessary exposure to the heat.“I was expecting ‘hot’, but not this hot”, 20-year-old New Zealander Ruby Prescott said, hoping for cooler air inside Amsterdam’s main art gallery, the Rijksmuseum.Demand for cooling equipment also surged. Electric fans quickly sold out across Britain, while Asian manufacturers reported a sharp rise in European orders for air conditioners. In France, state-owned utility EDF pledged €80 million to improve cooling systems in schools and childcare centres.Experts noted that only about one in five European households owns an air conditioner, according to the latest data from the International Energy Agency, leaving much of the region poorly equipped to cope with prolonged periods of extreme heat.

Omega block traps hot air over continent

Meteorologists said the heatwave has been fuelled by an atmospheric pattern known as an Omega block, which traps a large mass of hot air over the same region for an extended period while cooler air circulates around its edges.According to the Reuters Climate Monitor, temperatures in some areas have risen by as much as 18 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages.The World Meteorological Organisation said the weather system, which initially spread from the Iberian Peninsula into western Europe, is expected to shift towards central Europe and the Balkans by the end of the month.ALSO READ | How an ‘omega block’ is supercharging Europe’s deadly heatwaveClimate scientists from the World Weather Attribution group said the extraordinary heat would have been “virtually impossible” without human-induced climate change. They also concluded that the exceptionally warm nights experienced this week were now around 100 times more likely than they would have been just two decades ago.“Over the region studied, this heatwave is the most severe ever recorded,” the World Weather Attribution group of climate scientists said in their latest analysis.

Hospitals struggle as deaths rise

Hospitals across Europe continued to face mounting pressure as soaring temperatures increased emergency admissions and placed additional strain on healthcare infrastructure.Hilary Williams, clinical vice president of Britain’s Royal College of Physicians, said overcrowded wards and intense heat were creating difficult conditions for both patients and medical staff.“People are far too hot,” she told BBC Radio, adding that some critical equipment, including MRI scanners and cancer treatment machines, was being affected by the heat.Medical professionals in France also reported a sharp increase in emergency calls and patients requiring treatment.Patrick Pelloux, a doctor with emergency services in Paris and president of the Association of French Emergency Room Doctors, said emergency healthcare services in the French capital had recorded 55 deaths within a 24-hour period.“Fifty-five is enormous. Normally it’s three or four over 24 hours. It’s really excess deaths (due to the heatwave), that is clear.”