Melted Traffic Lights in Europe Caused by Fires, Not Heatwave

Videos circulating on social media show traffic lights appearing melted in German and Italian cities, with many users attributing the damage to an intense heatwave gripping Europe. However, investigations have debunked these claims, revealing that fires, not extreme temperatures, caused the deformation.

In Berlin, a traffic light in the Friedrichshain district, near the nightclub 'Wilde Renate,' was damaged by a fire that occurred in July 2023. Reports from local media at the time indicated that the fire affected nearby street infrastructure, including traffic lights at a specific intersection.

Similarly, a traffic light in Lugagnano, near Verona, Italy, was damaged by a car fire on June 23rd of this year. Local news outlets covered the incident, sharing images of the burning vehicle near the traffic light, which was subsequently deformed.

While Europe is indeed experiencing an exceptional heatwave, with record temperatures reported in Germany, the melted traffic lights are isolated incidents caused by localized fires, not a widespread consequence of the heat.