The severe heat wave has placed European countries on an unprecedented state of alert, with scientists saying it is the worst the continent has seen, as the climate is changing faster there than anywhere else. Germany recorded a new all-time temperature high yesterday, reaching 41.3 degrees Celsius, according to data from the German Meteorological Service.
Temperatures also exceeded 35 degrees Celsius in numerous European cities, with forecasts suggesting the heat will affect at least 150 million people. The extreme heat has caused the deaths of around 300 people, as well as partial paralysis of the transport, education, and agriculture sectors, and the postponement of official events in several countries.
According to European data, the current heat wave will affect around 7 in every 10 Europeans, with temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius for more than 420 million people across the continent. These figures align with data from the Austrian non-governmental organisation Klimadashboard.
In Switzerland, energy company Axpo announced the temporary shutdown of the Beznau nuclear power plant — the oldest operational nuclear plant in the world — due to rising temperatures in the Aare River, which is used to cool the reactors. The company explained that water temperatures in the river had reached 25 degrees Celsius, necessitating the precautionary measure.