A record-breaking heatwave has swept across Europe, causing over 1,000 excess deaths in France and disrupting critical infrastructure. The French public health agency reports most fatalities involved older people and warns the number will likely rise.
Scientists state the heatwave, which began June 20th, is the worst ever recorded in Europe and would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change. The World Health Organization noted 150 million people are under extreme heat, with grids buckling and schools closed.
The crisis has hit transport and power systems. Storms caused power outages in France, train services were reduced in Germany, and Hungary's Paks nuclear plant cut output due to high Danube River temperatures. Italy's Po River has dwindled, allowing seawater to advance inland, threatening agriculture.
Temperatures topped records in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland. Dozens have drowned seeking relief. As the heatwave eases in France, forecasters say it will move deeper into Central Europe and the Balkans.