A searing heatwave has swept across parts of Europe, forcing the closure of more than a thousand schools in France, and the top floor of the Eiffel Tower was shut to tourists visiting Paris.
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The Mediterranean Sea is also bearing the brunt, with water temperatures in Spain’s Balearic Sea hitting a record 30ºC—around 6ºC higher than usual for this time of year — according to Spain’s national weather service, Aemet.
A persistent “heat dome” has settled over the continent, trapping hot air and triggering widespread health alerts. The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that Europe is warming at twice the global average, resulting in more frequent and longer-lasting extreme weather events.
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In France, temperatures surged to 40ºC–41ºC in some areas on Tuesday, with most regions baking under highs between 36ºC and 39ºC, said Meteo France. Sixteen departments were placed under the highest alert level, while another 68 faced the second-highest.
The education ministry confirmed that approximately 1,350 schools were either fully or partially shut — a sharp jump from the 200 closures reported on Monday. Meanwhile, the Eiffel Tower’s top floor will remain closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Visitors have been urged to stay hydrated.
The heatwave is also complicating the grain harvest in France, the EU’s largest grain producer. The risk of field fires has escalated, especially in the Indre region, which has battled multiple blazes since late June. Local authorities there have banned fieldwork between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to limit fire risks. Many farmers have begun harvesting overnight to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Marine ecosystems may not escape unscathed either.
“In the past, we have seen impacts such as mass mortalities of invertebrate species, die-offs of seagrass beds, and disease outbreaks in mussel farms. We’ll likely see similar impacts from this event,” said Kathryn Smith of the Marine Biological Association of the UK.
Across the continent, health agencies are warning residents and tourists to stay cool. Extreme heat causes up to 480,000 deaths annually worldwide—a toll that exceeds those from floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes combined, according to Swiss Re.
In Grimbergen, Belgium, residents at a local retirement home found relief in a paddling pool, passing a ball between each other to stay active and cool.
“To me, it’s a great activity,” said Marie-Jeanne Olbrechts, one of the residents.
In Germany, the DGG association for geriatric care raised concerns about the country’s readiness to handle such conditions.
“If they were, they could prevent tens of thousands of deaths in the future,” said Clemens Becker, who authored a study for the DGG.
Scientists continue to link such extreme events to climate change, pointing to greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels as a primary driver, along with deforestation and industrial practices. Last year was the hottest year ever recorded on Earth.
Source: Reuters
