Germany, Czechia, Poland, and Hungary reached record temperatures exceeding 40°C on Sunday, as a severe heatwave that has been linked to hundreds of deaths in western Europe expanded eastward. More than 191 million people across Europe faced temperatures of at least 35°C, with extreme heat warnings issued throughout the region.
Germany's All-Time High
Germany recorded a new national record of 41.7°C in Coschen, near the Polish border in eastern Brandenburg, according to preliminary data from the German Weather Service (DWD). This surpassed the previous record of 41.5°C set just a day earlier in Drewitz. The extreme heat complicated firefighting efforts, particularly in Gohrischheide, eastern Germany, where a fire broke out in a forest contaminated with ammunition from World War II. A separate major firefighting operation near the village of Traisen in southwestern Germany was temporarily paused after explosions were triggered, prompting the deployment of a bomb disposal unit, as reported by the German news agency DPA. About 650 residents in Traisen were evacuated on Sunday as the fire continued to spread.
In Berlin, police deployed water cannons to cool down residents and tourists. Deutsche Bahn, the German rail operator, advised against all nonessential travel due to the heat.
Poland Breaks 105-Year Record
Poland surpassed its all-time heat record, reaching 40.5°C in Słubice on the Polish-German border, breaking a 105-year-old record of 40.2°C set in 1921. The Polish government's security agency sent text messages urging people to “avoid the sun and strenuous activity,” drink water, and wear hats throughout the weekend. Multiple cities set up water curtains to help residents stay cool.
Hungary and Czechia Also Set Records
Hungary recorded a new all-time high of 40.7°C in Budakalász, exceeding Saturday's 40.0°C and the previous national record of 37.5°C from 1994. Czechia reported a new record of 41.9°C in Doksany, confirmed by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute on Sunday afternoon. “Temperatures continue to rise, this is not the final maximum,” the institute stated. In Slovakia, 39.3°C was recorded in Mužla, in the southwest of the country. Denmark registered its highest temperature since measurements began in 1874, with 36.6°C north of Odense on Saturday.
France Counts Heatwave Deaths
France has begun tallying deaths attributed to the heatwave. The French national public health agency reported that between June 24 and 27, an additional 1,000 deaths were recorded compared to previous months. These provisional figures are expected to rise significantly. The sharpest increase was among people dying at home, particularly in the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris and its suburbs. The majority of deaths were among those over 65, but younger people were also affected. “This serves as a reminder of the need for measures of solidarity towards people who are isolated or experiencing profound loneliness, including in highly urbanised areas,” the health agency said in a statement.
Philippe Juvin, an emergency doctor and MP for the right-wing Les Républicains party, warned that the final death toll in France would be very high. He noted on Sunday that there were likely people still in their homes in a coma or who had died, who might not be discovered until the following week. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that hospitals and emergency services would remain under pressure in the coming days. Marine Tondelier, leader of the Greens, called for “all light must be shed” on the “very high death toll” and for political action on the climate crisis. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that ambulance services responded to more than 122,000 callouts during the hottest period of the heatwave.
Spain and Other Impacts
Preliminary figures in Spain showed at least 327 deaths possibly linked to the heat between June 23 and 27. A large part of northern France was hit by violent electrical storms and high winds, causing several injuries as emergency services dealt with fallen trees and flooded homes. Lightning in the Aisne area sparked fires, including one in Laon where five people were injured. Storms caused electricity outages, leaving more than 60,000 homes without power on Sunday morning. In Belgium, one man died when a tree fell on his vehicle outside Brussels, according to media reports, after violent storms hit much of the country.
