Historic Heatwave Grips Central Europe as Temperatures Shatter Decades-Old Records

Germany, Czechia, Poland, and Hungary endured unprecedented heat on Sunday, with temperatures exceeding 40°C as a deadly heatwave that has already claimed hundreds of lives in western Europe expanded eastward. Over 191 million people across Europe faced extreme heat warnings amid scorching conditions.

Germany set a new national record of 41.7°C in Coschen, eastern Brandenburg, surpassing the previous day’s high of 41.5°C in Drewitz. In eastern Germany’s Gohrischheide, a forest fire complicated firefighting operations due to World War II-era ammunition contamination. A separate blaze at a former munitions site near Traisen forced 650 residents to evacuate as explosions delayed suppression efforts.

In Berlin, police deployed water cannons to provide relief to residents and tourists, while Deutsche Bahn suspended non-essential travel advisories. Poland recorded 40.5°C in Słubice, breaking its 1921 record of 40.2°C. Authorities urged citizens to avoid sun exposure and stay hydrated, with multiple cities installing water curtains for public cooling.

Hungary reached 40.7°C in Budakalász, exceeding Saturday’s 40.0°C and the prior national record of 37.5°C from 1994. Czechia reported a peak of 41.9°C in Doksany, with meteorologists warning that rising temperatures may continue. Slovakia and Denmark also experienced extreme heat, with Mužla hitting 39.3°C and Odense reaching 36.6°C—the highest since 1874.

France began tallying heat-related fatalities, with preliminary data showing 1,000 excess deaths between June 24–27, primarily among those over 65 in the Paris region. Emergency doctor Philippe Juvin warned the final toll could rise significantly, with potential unaccounted cases in isolated homes. The government stressed ongoing hospital strain and highlighted over 122,000 ambulance callouts during the peak.

Political leaders, including Green Party head Marine Tondelier, called for urgent climate action amid the crisis. Violent storms compounded the devastation in northern France, causing injuries, power outages for 60,000 homes, and fires sparked by lightning. One person died in Belgium after a storm-felled tree crushed a vehicle near Brussels.

Spain reported at least 327 heat-linked deaths between Sunday and Thursday, as the broader region grappled with cascading impacts of extreme weather.

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