Europe continues to be battered by an unprecedented heat wave, with temperatures breaking one historic record after another and the effects becoming increasingly noticeable, both on infrastructure and public health.

On Saturday, Germany recorded a new all-time high temperature for the second consecutive day, as the mercury reached 41.5 degrees Celsius in the Mekern-Drewitz, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. This figure surpassed the record of 41.3°C set just one day earlier in Saarbrücken, near the border with France.

At the same time, record-high temperatures were also recorded in the Czech Republic, where the mercury reached 40.8°C at the Doksany weather station, north of Prague, as well as in Denmark, where temperatures briefly reached 37°C in the Odum area, surpassing the previous national record of 36.4°C that had stood since 1976.

Meanwhile, Switzerland broke its record for the highest temperature ever recorded in June for the third consecutive day, with the thermometer reaching 39°C in Basel.

Berlin is melting under the record heatwave.

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So authorities rolled out water cannons.

Fire trucks and police are literally hosing down crowds near the Brandenburg Gate to cool people off.

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Temperatures hit 102°F.

This is how Europe is handling the extreme weather.

Writer: Sol…

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— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 28, 2026

Highways in Germany are “melting,” causing transportation problems

Extreme temperatures are affecting not only citizens but also critical infrastructure. In Germany, the heat wave has caused serious damage to the A2 highway, one of the country’s most important transportation arteries connecting Berlin with western Germany.

According to authorities, the road surface has suffered such extensive damage that new interchanges are constantly being closed, while large sections of the road in the state of Brandenburg have become too dangerous for vehicles to travel on. Traffic is being diverted onto local roads, causing hours-long delays and massive traffic congestion. German authorities are even warning that estimates from navigation apps, such as Google Maps, do not reflect reality, as wait times are much longer.

Significant problems were also reported on public transit. In Leipzig, it was announced that all tram services would be suspended until early Monday morning, as high temperatures caused warping of the rails and track switches. According to the company, the materials used to seal the joints between asphalt and concrete melted due to the heat, making it impossible to operate the network safely.

In #Leipzig, the heat is bringing tram service to a standstill: https://t.co/R2SeEnmVog

— Tobias F (@tobiasf91) June 27, 2026

Hundreds of deaths

It is estimated that approximately 150 million people in Europe are experiencing temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.

The World Meteorological Organization has already warned that the heat wave will have serious consequences for both public health and ecosystems.

In France, since the heat wave began, the death toll from drowning has reached at least 74. Many of the victims lost their lives after diving into unregulated beaches or unsupervised areas in an attempt to cool off.

Since June 24, 1,000 excess deaths have already been recorded in the country, according to the national public health agency, which predicted that the actual toll will be higher. The phenomenon primarily affects people over the age of 65, according to Santé publique France, which also notes a 40% increase in deaths at home. The red heat wave alert in France now applies only to the far eastern part of the country, where it is expected to be lifted this evening.

In Spain, the MoMo monitoring system recorded 327 deaths that may be linked to extreme temperatures in just five days, from Sunday through Thursday.

Six people lost their lives on Friday and Saturday in swimming pools or lakes in the Bratislava area, according to Slovak police.

According to BBC meteorologist Ben Rich, the heatwave is due to the formation of a persistent high-pressure system, known as a “heat dome.” The high-pressure system traps the hot air, which is compressed and heats up even more, while the near-total absence of clouds allows intense solar radiation to push temperatures to ever-higher levels each day.

French shoppers clashed over air conditioners as a deadly heat wave swept across the country, with emergency health service data showing that at least 109 people died in Paris on Friday from suspected heat-related causes

The death toll excludes deaths in hospitals and nursing homes,… pic.twitter.com/Pvy3nYmLZx

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) June 27, 2026