Europe swelters as heatwave affects more than 100 million people from Spain to Germany

Europe swelters as heatwave affects more than 100 million people from Spain to Germany

A record-breaking heatwave has gripped much of Europe, affecting more than 100 million people as temperatures soared above 35 degrees Celsius in many regions. The extreme weather has been linked to hundreds of deaths, with health authorities counting the toll in the hardest-hit countries.

According to AFP calculations based on forecasts from the German weather service and 2025 population projections from the European Joint Research Centre, more than 380 million people faced temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. At least 101 million Europeans were expected to experience temperatures above 35 degrees on Thursday, as reported by multiple outlets included in this analysis.

France and Spain were among the countries worst hit, with France placing most of its mainland under extreme heat alerts. Some 63 million people out of a total population of 67 million in France faced temperatures over 30 degrees, as reported by Africa News and France 24. Germany, Italy, and the UK also saw large numbers of people affected, with 70 million, 48 million, and 38 million respectively experiencing temperatures above 30 degrees. Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands also recorded high temperatures.

Coverage comparison

The heatwave's severity and its link to climate change were central themes across the reports reviewed. ABC Australia emphasized the record-breaking nature of the temperatures and the human toll, reporting that Spain recorded 212 deaths linked to the heat between Sunday and Wednesday, according to the MoMo monitoring system of mortality rates. The outlet also noted the UK recorded its hottest ever June day, with temperatures reaching 36.4 degrees in south-western Somerset.

Africa News and France 24 both highlighted the role of the climate crisis, quoting UN climate chief Simon Stiell, who said the heatwave "has the fingerprints of the climate crisis all over it." They also reported on the explanation of the "heat dome" phenomenon by Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.

The South China Morning Post focused on the scientific attribution, reporting that scientists said the record-breaking heatwave would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change. The outlet also noted an estimated few hundred people, including children, were thought to have died due to the heat, many drowning as they sought relief.

Key claims

• At least 101 million Europeans experienced temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius, as reported by ABC Australia, Africa News, France 24, and the South China Morning Post.
• An estimated few hundred people, including children, are thought to have died due to the heatwave, with many drowning, according to the South China Morning Post.
• Spain recorded 212 deaths linked to the heat between Sunday and Wednesday, according to the MoMo monitoring system, as reported by ABC Australia.
• The UK recorded its hottest ever June day, with temperatures reaching 36.4 degrees in Somerset, as reported by ABC Australia.
• Scientists attribute the heatwave to human-caused climate change; the World Weather Attribution group said it would have been "virtually impossible" without it, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
• UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the heatwave "has the fingerprints of the climate crisis all over it," as reported by Africa News and France 24.
• The hot weather was due to a "heat dome" of trapped air from north Africa in a low-lying high-pressure system, according to Samantha Burgess of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, as reported by Africa News and France 24.
• France and Spain were among the countries worst hit, as reported by Africa News and France 24.

Perspectives

Climate scientists (World Weather Attribution): The record-breaking heatwave would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change, which made such extreme temperatures 100 times more likely than two decades ago.

UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell: The heatwave has "the fingerprints of the climate crisis all over it," and is "the latest price to pay for fossil fuel pollution baking our planet."

Copernicus Climate Change Service (Samantha Burgess): While heat domes are natural, anthropogenic climate change is making heatwaves more severe and more likely to reach record-breaking temperatures.