Key facts
- France experienced approximately 1,000 excess deaths during its recent heat wave.
- The majority of excess deaths in France were among individuals aged 65 and older.
- Germany set new daytime and nighttime temperature records.
- Wildfires ignited in Germany due to the extreme heat, some in areas with unexploded ordnance.
- Berlin police deployed water cannons to help cool down residents and tourists.
France experienced approximately 1,000 excess deaths last week as a severe heat wave gripped the nation, with the highest mortality rates observed on days with record-breaking temperatures. Public Health France reported that daily deaths surged from a baseline of 900-1,000 to over 1,200 on Wednesday and more than 1,400 on the following two days. The agency noted that 85% of these excess deaths involved individuals aged 65 and above, with the sharpest increases seen in regions under extreme heat warnings.
Across Europe, the heat wave continued to shatter temperature records. Germany recorded a new daytime high of 41.5 C (106.7 F) and a nighttime low of 29.4 C (84.9 F) in separate locations. These extreme temperatures fueled wildfires, including in forests contaminated with World War II ammunition, complicating firefighting efforts and temporarily halting operations due to explosions. Major cities' fire departments were also busy responding to heat-related illnesses, with Berlin reporting an additional 500 ambulance dispatches on Saturday.
Berlin police deployed water cannons in front of the Brandenburg Gate to cool down residents and tourists. The heat also caused significant damage to infrastructure, with highways breaking up and train services disrupted. In Leipzig, tram services were suspended due to heat damage to tracks and switches.
Meanwhile, Greece issued a "very high fire risk" warning for five regions, while Denmark, after setting new temperature records, was hit by heavy thunderstorms, recording over 1,156 lightning strikes by Sunday morning.
A recent study by World Weather Attribution concluded that the extreme heat and humidity in Europe this week would have been virtually impossible without climate change, stating it is 200 times more likely today than 20 years ago.