Europe's extreme heatwave melts roads and kills over 1,000 people

A severe heatwave sweeping across western Europe has driven temperatures to 40‑45 °C in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The intense heat is melting road tar, causing cracks and ruptures on major highways such as Germany’s Autobahn, and expanding metal rails on trains and trams. In France, the heatwave has already claimed more than 1,000 lives, a death toll not seen in the country’s recent history.

Analysts note that the same thermometer reading would feel far less lethal in India, where the climate, building design, air quality and widespread use of air‑conditioning mitigate the impact. In Europe, buildings are built for cold winters, insulation traps heat, and clear skies allow solar radiation to accumulate, while stagnant air prevents cooling. These factors, combined with limited air‑conditioner penetration, have turned the heatwave into a deadly health crisis.

The event highlights the growing vulnerability of infrastructure and public health to extreme temperatures as climate change pushes heat records higher across the continent.