A heatwave across large parts of Europe has seen Spain cancel World Cup TV screenings and alcohol bans in France as temperatures soared.
Nationwide warnings were also issued in Germany, while Italy and parts of southern Britain also sweltered in the hot weather as the climate crisis creates further record breaking conditions.
Spain kicked off the summer with large parts of the country on alert due to temperatures expected to exceed 40C as its football federation closed a fan zone giant screens in Madrid’s Plaza de Colón square ahead of the country’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia.
France went ahead with its annual street music festival on Sunday in a boiling heatwave, but alcohol consumption was banned in the streets, and an event at the Louvre gallery was cancelled.
In a national first, the red alert – France’s highest heat warning – was issued across half the country in 49 departments, a new record, with another 40 under orange alert.
In a national first, the red alert – France’s highest heat warning – was issued across half the country in 49 departments, a new record, with another 40 under orange alert
The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool crowds.
‘We are facing an episode that is particularly intense and unusually early,’ said Mathieu Lefevre, the Minister for Ecological Transition, urging a ‘great deal of caution’.
President Emmanuel Macron on X urged French people to ‘look out for others’, especially the elderly, children and isolated or vulnerable people.
To minimise health risks and prevent potential public disturbances, the government announced a ban on alcohol consumption in public places during any festivities in departments under red alert.
The government said it would be up to local event organisers to adapt festivities outside red-alert areas but alcohol will not be served at state-organised events.
To ensure public safety, authorities have deployed 4,800 police officers and gendarmes, along with 2,500 firefighters, in and around the capital, while gatherings along the lower banks of the Seine are prohibited to reduce the risk of people going into the water.
Officials warned about risks linked to swimming, after four teenagers drowned in France on Saturday.
The government has also announced reinforced wildfire readiness and ordered tightened surveillance of water supplies to France’s nuclear reactors. It also ordered 845 schools to close.
Elsewhere in Europe
In London, temperatures are set to rise to a scorching 38C, while Birmingham will see similar highs of 35C on Wednesday and 37C on Thursday.
The new alerts have raised concerns about potential health impacts on people vulnerable to extreme heat and heat-related issues, as well as a possible increase in water safety incidents.
According to the UK’s Met Office, the heatwave across Europe is being driven by a strong area of high pressure building over the continent promoting widespread sinking air, which suppresses cloud formation and allows for prolonged sunshine and higher temperatures.
Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense across Europe, raising the risk of health emergencies and economic disruption during the summer months.
More than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, and most of the fatalities were preventable, the World Health Organisation’s Europe office said this month.
Human-caused climate change is tied to increasing extreme weather events, and United Nations climate agency projections say the next five years should shatter more heat records
