Tens of millions face a weekend of extreme temperatures in Europe as a deadly heatwave moves eastwards, with German forecasters warning that more records could be broken and eastern countries issuing a slew of red alerts for the coming days.
Issued on: 27/06/2026 - 18:10
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At least 193 million people in Europe were expected to experience temperatures above 35C on Saturday, according to the latest forecasts from Germany, one of the hardest hit countries. The unprecedented hot spell has already seen records tumble in Britain, France, Switzerland and is showing no sign of letting up. Scores of people have died either through heat-related illness or drowning accidents and emergency services in several countries have said their facilities are saturated. Street parties and music festivals were cancelled in France, Germany and the Netherlands – though Pride March went ahead in Budapest despite the extreme heat warnings. Current Europe heatwave 'impossible' without human-induced climate change The authorities in Paris cancelled several events, including the city's annual Pride March and the Solidays AIDS fundraiser event. Paris's hospital authority said emergency calls in the capital had risen by 80 percent in the past week, compared with the same week last year. Deputy mayor in charge of health, Antoine Alibert told local media stretchers were "piling up in the corridors". "We are in the midst of a health crisis. This is an exceptional and extreme heatwave event," he said.
