PARIS/AMSTERDAM/LONDON
Health authorities across Europe were on high alert on Friday as a killer heatwave progressed across the continent, prompting alcohol bans and the cancellation of mass gatherings in France, melting road surfaces in Germany and twisting rail tracks in Sweden.
Scientists said the heatwave, which began on June 20, was the worst recorded in Europe, where the climate is changing faster than the global average.
Temperatures were peaking in France and Britain, where records for June have been broken. But in Italy, the heat was expected to intensify into the weekend, bringing the summer’s first readings of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Paris hit a June record of 40.9 C on Wednesday. Even though temperatures were expected to ease, authorities braced for more casualties.
“There will be consequences in terms of the number of additional deaths,” French Health Minister Stephanie Rist told reporters.
Across the continent, cultural landmarks have been forced to close, and farming has suffered. In Britain, doctors said the hot weather was affecting critical equipment such as MRI scanners in hospitals.
Paris police asked organisers of major events, including the Solidays music festival, to cancel. Organisers of the Pride festival said they would reschedule. In Belgium, a planned re-enactment this weekend of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo – which resulted in the defeat and exile of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte – was cancelled as a result of the heatwave.
