France records hottest day on record as Europe swelters through brutal heatwave

Europe is sweltering under a brutal heatwave, with France experiencing its hottest day on record this Wednesday. Provisional data from Meteo-France indicates the national temperature indicator reached 30C, shattering a record set just the previous day. This extreme heat is part of a broader continental crisis, with at least 94 million people expected to face temperatures above 35C, primarily in France and Spain.

Scientific analysis suggests human-induced climate change significantly worsened the current heatwave, making temperatures 2C to 4C hotter than they would have been otherwise. The effects are widespread, with over 350 million people anticipated to experience temperatures exceeding 30C. Buildings and infrastructure not designed for such heat are struggling to cope, leading to power outages and health risks.

In France, approximately 44 million people are under the highest red alert for heat. Residents are struggling to find relief, with many homes lacking air conditioning. Manon Langlois, a teacher in Bordeaux where temperatures hit 41.8C, described the difficulty of staying cool. Similarly, Spain broke its June heat record, and the UK recorded its highest-ever June temperature of 36.1C in London.

“

We have to find means and ways to protect ourselves and do whatever nature wants. Nature is angry with us because we destroy everything.

The World Health Organization has warned of the risks to public health. Elderly residents in a London care home are finding it difficult to stay cool, with one 97-year-old resident, Lucine Nazikian, remarking, "We have to find means and ways to protect ourselves and do whatever nature wants. Nature is angry with us because we destroy everything."

Conditions have become unbearable in many schools, offices, and factories, forcing early closures and remote work arrangements. In Italy, where 16 cities are on red alert, Greenpeace reported surface temperatures reaching 80C in heavily asphalted areas near Rome's Termini railway station. The heatwave is putting immense strain on populations and infrastructure across the continent.

“

I'm practically swimming in my own sweat, which is not pleasant.