GENEVA — Public health authorities across Europe intensified monitoring of heat-related illnesses on Saturday as record temperatures continued to affect large parts of the continent, prompting hospitals, emergency services and national weather agencies to activate or expand heat-health response measures.
Health officials and meteorological agencies have warned that prolonged periods of exceptionally high daytime and nighttime temperatures are increasing the risk of heat exhaustion, heatstroke and worsening chronic medical conditions, particularly among older adults, young children, people with underlying illnesses and outdoor workers. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and national authorities said coordinated heat-health action plans were being implemented in several countries as the late-June heatwave continued.
Several countries recorded new temperature records during the week. France experienced its hottest day on record on June 24, according to Météo-France, while Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom also reported exceptionally high temperatures or new June records, national meteorological agencies said. Hospitals in some affected areas reported increased emergency visits linked to the heat, while authorities issued red-level weather alerts and advised residents to limit outdoor activity, remain hydrated and check on vulnerable people.
Nighttime temperatures have remained unusually high across many regions, reducing opportunities for the human body to recover from daytime heat exposure. “A day that reaches 38°C but drops to 18°C overnight is very different from a day that reaches 36°C and stays above 25°C through the night. The second scenario carries a much higher health risk,” Armel Castellan, an extreme heat services technical adviser at the WMO-WHO Climate and Health Joint Office, said in comments released by the United Nations on June 25.
The WHO has described heat stress as a leading cause of weather-related deaths and says extreme heat can aggravate cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, diabetes and other chronic conditions. According to the agency, studies estimate roughly 489,000 heat-related deaths occurred globally each year between 2000 and 2019, with Europe accounting for more than one-third of the total.
Authorities in several countries also reported disruptions to transport, public events and infrastructure as temperatures remained well above seasonal averages. Some regions warned of elevated wildfire risk and urged the public to follow local emergency guidance while health services remained on heightened alert.
As of Saturday, health and weather agencies continued to monitor conditions across affected countries, with official heat warnings remaining in place in multiple parts of Europe while emergency response measures and public health advisories continued.
