Europe faces heat wave with deaths, record temperatures and impacts on the economy

Where extreme heat advances towards eastern Europe
The heat wave hitting Europe, considered by scientists to be the most intense ever recorded on the continent, has already caused around a thousand more than expected deaths in France since Wednesday (24), reported the country's public health agency. Most of the victims were over 65 years old, and there was an increase in deaths at home, mainly in the Paris region.
This Sunday (28), more than 190 million people are expected to face temperatures of at least 35°C in different regions of the continent. And the advance of the heat wave also led several countries to record record temperatures.
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Germany reached 41.5°C on Saturday, the highest temperature ever measured in the country, surpassing the mark recorded just one day earlier. The German meteorological service also warned that thermometers could approach 42°C.
In the Czech Republic, the temperature reached 40.8°C north of Prague, with a forecast of exceeding 41°C this Sunday. In Basel, Switzerland, the thermometers registered 39°C, setting a new record for the month of June for the third day in a row.
Denmark recorded 37°C, the highest temperature since measurements began in the country.
Hospitals, transport and energy are affected
French Health Minister, Stéphanie Rist, told the newspaper La Tribune that the effects of extreme heat could continue to be felt for up to ten days, even after temperatures drop. In an interview with broadcaster BFM, she warned that "the episode is not over yet."
In addition to France, Spain associated 212 deaths recorded in a four-day period with extreme heat.
In different countries, hospitals, emergency services and local authorities have adopted measures to meet increased demand and reduce risks to the population.
In Paris and Vienna, for example, emergency care increased.
At the same time, festivals, outdoor events and demonstrations were cancelled, postponed or adapted due to high temperatures and weather warnings.
The effects also reached infrastructure and the energy sector.
According to Reuters, the warming of the waters of the Danube River led the Paks nuclear plant in Hungary to reduce electricity generation to keep the water used to cool the reactors within safety limits.
In Germany, railway companies relaxed the rules for canceling trips due to the risk of deformation of the tracks. The heat also caused cracks in sections of highways.
A woman with a fan near the Eiffel Tower during a heat wave in Paris, on June 20, 2026
REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
Climate change and economic risks
In addition to the immediate impacts, experts warn of long-term economic consequences.
Scientists estimate that a heat wave of this magnitude would be practically impossible without global warming caused by human action. Furthermore, events like these tend to become more frequent, longer lasting and more intense.
The current episode was favored by an atmospheric pattern known as "omega blockage", which maintains a mass of hot air over the same region for several days, making it difficult for cold fronts to arrive.
In addition to the immediate impacts, experts also warn about the economic effects of heat waves.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle, economist Katharina Utermöhl, economic policy researcher at the insurance company Allianz, states that temperatures above 30°C reduce productivity, increase energy consumption and increase the number of absences due to health problems.
"Above 30 degrees, productivity falls by 3% per additional degree, while energy costs increase by 1.2% per degree."
For the economist, extreme heat is no longer just a passing weather event and has come to represent a permanent challenge for the economy.
A study by Allianz estimates that, if episodes of intense heat become more frequent, the accumulated losses for the German economy between 2026 and 2030 could reach US$ 131 billion.
*With information from news agencies France Presse, Deutsche Welle, Reuters and RFI
What is the 'heat dome' that is causing extreme temperatures in Europe
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*With information from news agencies France Presse, Deutsche Welle, Reuters and RFI

Source: G1