Commuters in London sweltered as they navigated the stifling heat on public transit, grasping at fans for relief. Parisians sought respite in public fountains, while residents in Vatican City perspired during a papal audience in St. Peter’s Square.
This unprecedented heat is reshaping summers in Europe, including regions like Britain where such extremes were once uncommon. A lack of prepared infrastructure and limited air-conditioning has left many nations struggling to adapt.
Heat records were shattered across multiple locations this week. As temperatures surged to new highs on Wednesday, train cancellations triggered travel gridlock, schools shut early, and hospitals in England postponed non-essential surgeries.