Deadly Heatwave Shatters Records Across Europe and China, Scientists Warn of New Normal

A historic and deadly heatwave is sweeping across the globe, causing widespread disruption and claiming numerous lives. Approximately 150 million people currently live under extreme heat warnings, with entire cities shutting down and power grids collapsing under the strain. Schools have closed in many affected areas as temperatures soar to unprecedented levels.

France is at the epicenter of the crisis, reporting over 1,000 excess deaths primarily among the elderly, according to the Public Health Agency. In Paris, residents have resorted to covering windows with aluminum foil to block the intense sunlight. A dramatic moment captured on social media showed a powerful lightning strike hitting the top of the Eiffel Tower during a thunderstorm that briefly broke the heatwave.

Germany has also experienced record-breaking temperatures, reaching 41.7 degrees Celsius in Leipzig. The extreme heat has physically damaged infrastructure, including tram lines that became unsafe and forced service suspensions. In North Rhine-Westphalia, train services were reduced, and many residents stayed indoors until evening.

In China, authorities have deployed water-spraying trucks on major roads to prevent asphalt from melting and to cool the surrounding air through evaporation. To provide psychological relief, visual illusions of air conditioners and fans are displayed on screens and billboards, offering a sense of coolness amid the oppressive heat.

Other European countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria have also broken temperature records. In Rome, Pope Francis thanked worshippers who braved the heat to attend Sunday prayers at St. Peter’s Square. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a stark warning, stating that what was once a "once-in-a-generation heatwave" is now occurring almost annually. He emphasized that homes, workplaces, and schools in Europe are ill-equipped to handle such extreme temperatures, signaling a troubling new reality for the planet.

Summary: A severe global heatwave is causing record temperatures, infrastructure damage, and hundreds of deaths, especially in Europe and China, with experts warning this extreme heat is becoming the new normal.

Points: - Over 150 million people face extreme heat warnings amid a global deadly heatwave. - France reports more than 1,000 excess deaths, mainly among the elderly. - Germany’s heatwave damages tram lines, forcing service suspensions. - China uses water trucks and visual illusions to mitigate road damage and heat stress. - WHO warns such extreme heatwaves are now occurring almost every year.

Topic: weather

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