Trains buckle, schools shut and outdoor workers struggle through 40°C days. Trade unions and scientists are warning that Europe’s heatwave is no longer just a 'weather story' but a full showdown over who is responsible for keeping workers safe.

Workers stewed at their posts and children stayed home from school on Tuesday as a choking early-summer heatwave smothered much of western Europe.

Europe grapples with a severe heatwave as temperatures reach record highs, prompting health warnings and disruptions. | World News

Europe’s heatwave endangers lives as well as incomes.