Europe on high alert as deadly heat set to move east and south
Key takeaways
- By: FRANCE 24 A healthcare worker enters the adult emergency department at the Pellegrin University Hospital during a heatwave in Bordeaux on June 23, 2026.
- 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.
- Read moreWhy is Europe heating up faster than the rest of the world?
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The unprecedented heatwave that has been hitting Europe since the beginning of the week is spreading east and south across the continent, leading to the cancellation of events as temperatures exceed 35C and hospitals are becoming overwhelmed with demand.
By: FRANCE 24 A healthcare worker enters the adult emergency department at the Pellegrin University Hospital during a heatwave in Bordeaux on June 23, 2026. © Philippe Lopez, AFP 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.