A punishing heatwave is gripping Europe for a second consecutive day, with the UK's June temperature record potentially falling again. The extreme conditions have prompted health warnings across Britain, France, and Italy as cities grapple with the threat.
In Paris, Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire told local television that “pretty much all our indicators are in a critical state” due to the heatwave, according to AFP. He cited a rise in calls to emergency medical services and the fire brigade, as well as an increase in hospital admissions and deaths, though he did not provide specific figures.
The severity of the event underscores the growing impact of climate-driven extreme weather on European infrastructure and public health. Emergency systems across the continent are being tested, with authorities urging residents to stay hydrated and avoid peak outdoor hours.
No precise temperature readings or fatality numbers have been released yet, but the UK's June high may be broken for the second day running. Officials are closely monitoring conditions as the heatwave is expected to persist.
Critics caution that attributing any single heatwave directly to climate change requires careful analysis, though scientists widely agree that such extremes are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming.