Key facts
- Record-breaking temperatures are occurring in central and eastern Europe.
- Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary have registered record temperatures.
- Poland shut down coal power plants due to low river levels.
- Germany estimates thousands of heat-related deaths this summer.
- Temperatures exceeded 40 C in Seoul and other South Korean cities.
- Seoul reached a temperature of 40.2 C.
- South Korea is experiencing a high number of heat wave days and tropical nights.
Extreme heat is shattering temperature records across central and eastern Europe, with countries like Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary registering unprecedented highs. The severe weather conditions have prompted significant responses, including Poland's decision to shut down coal power plants because of critically low river levels. In Germany, authorities estimate that thousands of heat-related deaths have occurred this summer due to the ongoing extreme temperatures.
Concurrently, South Korea is facing its own severe heat wave, with temperatures surpassing 40 C in Seoul and other cities on Friday. The capital city recorded a high of 40.2 C. This intense heat has resulted in an elevated number of heat wave days and tropical nights throughout the summer season in the country.
The widespread extreme temperatures highlight a global pattern of unusual weather events. In Europe, the low river levels impacting power generation are a direct consequence of the prolonged heat and lack of rainfall, affecting industrial operations. The human toll in Germany underscores the public health risks associated with such prolonged heat events.