Shoes And Tram Tracks Melt, Eggs Fry In the Sun, Deaths Rise As Europe Bakes Under Record Heatwave

Published 30 June 2026 · europe

Shoes And Tram Tracks Melt, Eggs Fry In the Sun, Deaths Rise As Europe Bakes Under Record Heatwave Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026

Shoes And Tram Tracks Melt, Eggs Fry In the Sun, Deaths Rise As Europe Bakes Under Record Heatwave Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 15:01 IST The heatwave, which first swept across western Europe last week, has since spread eastward, breaking temperature records in Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Police use water cannon to spray people with water as the arrive at the Olympic stadium for a concert of US singer Bruno Mars on June 28, 2026, in Berlin, as the German capital is expected to reach temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius during a heatwave in Europe. (Photo: AFP) Europe is facing its most intense heatwave on record, with soaring temperatures setting new highs across several countries, increasing deaths and hospitalisations, and putting healthcare systems under severe pressure. The extreme heat has also sparked widespread attention on social media, with videos showing people cooking eggs and bacon on frying pans left in the Sun. Other clips show chocolates melting inside shops, shopping carts and shoes warping in the heat, and bananas slipping out of their peels. Slovakia registered a new temperature record on Monday when the mercury touched 40.5 degrees Celsius in Muzla near the Hungarian border, according to the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute. Later, the institute reported a new national record of 41 degrees Celsius in Turna nad Bodvou in the southeast of the country. Hungary also came close to its all-time record after temperatures reached 41.8 degrees Celsius in Aszod, just below the national record of 41.9 degrees Celsius set in 2007. Heat spreads across Europe The heatwave, which first swept across western Europe last week, has since spread eastward, breaking temperature records in Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Over the weekend, the Czech Republic recorded 41.9 degrees Celsius, Germany reached 41.7 degrees Celsius and Poland registered 40.5 degrees Celsius. In Germany, local reports showed tram tracks melting under the heat, forcing tram services in Leipzig to stop over the weekend. In Berlin, police used water cannons to help residents cool down. 🥵🇫🇷 France is facing an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring to around 50°C in some areas. pic.twitter.com/MaE0dkmZzQ— Disaster Zone (@Disaster_X_) June 29, 2026 According to an AFP analysis of forecast data, around 130 million people across Europe were expected to experience temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, down from 190 million on Sunday. The World Weather Attribution group said the heatwave was the most severe ever recorded in Europe and would have been “virtually impossible" this early in summer without climate change. 1,300 KILLED across Europe in 7 DAYS as HEATWAVE grips continent — WHO pic.twitter.com/Nky2aCYpxl— RT (@RT_com) June 28, 2026 Deaths rise as hospitals come under strain The World Health Organization said more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded across Europe since June 21 due to high temperatures. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described Europe as the “fastest-warming continent on Earth", saying it is warming at twice the global average. Are they blaming their PM/President for the weather change? pic.twitter.com/Ixu3nqRud4— Mr Sinha (@Mrsinha) June 29, 2026 “Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling," he said. He added that heat stress is often called the “silent killer" because European homes, schools and workplaces were not designed for such temperatures. The UN health agency said the deaths included several children who died after being left inside locked vehicles and young people who drowned while trying to cool off in unsupervised swimming areas.