Europe Heatwave Leaves Eight Dead as Temperatures Surge, Fires Spread

Riyadh, July 3 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – An early summer heatwave gripping much of Europe has left at least eight people dead and triggered widespread health alerts, forest fires and infrastructure disruption, according to Reuters.

In Spain, four people have died, including two victims of a wildfire in Catalonia and additional heat-related deaths reported in Extremadura and Cordoba. French officials confirmed two fatalities linked to extreme temperatures, with 300 people taken to hospital, while Italy has reported two heat-related deaths on the island of Sardinia.

Authorities in Italy issued red alerts for 18 cities as parts of Germany braced for temperatures expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest day of the year so far. Meteo France warned that several areas of central France remain under red alert.

France’s health and families minister Catherine Vautrin urged vigilance, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly. “In the coming days, we’ll see the consequences, particularly on the most vulnerable,” she said.

The heatwave has also forced the temporary closure of a nuclear reactor at a Swiss power plant, while violent storms triggered by excessive warming in the French Alps led to mudslides that disrupted rail services between Paris and Milan.

According to Allianz Research, the prolonged extreme temperatures could slow Europe’s economic growth by as much as half a percentage point in 2025. The impact of one day above 32 degrees Celsius was likened to the financial cost of half a day of strikes.

Meteorologists say the heatwaves have arrived earlier than usual this year, pushing temperatures up to 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal in some regions. Scientists attribute the pattern to warming seas that have helped create a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses and intensifying conditions.