New Temperature Records Are Set By Deadly Heat Wave in Europe

Millions of Europeans have been struggling to deal with the recent heat wave, as the record breaking high temperatures are heavily affecting their daily lives. Across the continent, homes are losing electricity, and rail journeys are being delayed due to the risk of bent railroad tracks.

The New York Times quotes experts on the issue, writing, “Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common and severe because of climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels.”

On top of that, some buildings in Britain and France lack air conditioning and are even designed to trap heat instead of releasing it. Recent statistics show that the heat wave has caused more than 40 people in France to swim unsafely and drown, with the majority being teenagers. Three children in France were also found dead inside parked cars. Moreover, Britain broke a record for June with a temperature of 36.4 degrees Celsius (97.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in southwest England.

The recent temperature rise has not only been troubling Britain and France, but also other countries in Europe. On Thursday, for example, other countries with high temperature heat warnings included Austria, Belgium, Britain, Croatia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Sweden.

“The continent’s stifling heat wave — the second in two months — has disrupted education, transportation and other aspects of daily life for millions of people. The heat has also proved deadly,” reporters Lynsey Chutel, Nazaneen Ghaffar, Aurelien Breeden, and Zane Irwin say.