France recorded around 1,000 additional deaths last week at the peak of its record-breaking heatwave, the country’s public health agency said on Sunday, as much of Europe endured another day of extreme temperatures that triggered wildfires in Germany and saw Berlin police deploying water cannons to cool crowds.
Temperatures continued to shatter records across several countries over the weekend as the heatwave slowly shifted towards eastern Europe.
In France, Public Health France reported a sharp rise in mortality during the height of the heatwave, alongside a surge in emergency calls, particularly in the Paris region.
Daily deaths exceeded 1,200 on Wednesday, when temperatures peaked, and rose to more than 1,400 on each of the following two days, the agency said. By comparison, average daily deaths in April and May stood at around 900 to 1,000.
The agency estimated at least 1,000 excess deaths over the three-day period, warning the figure could rise as additional data, including deaths occurring at home, is analysed. It said the increase was most pronounced in regions placed under red extreme heat alerts, which covered roughly three-quarters of the country at the height of the heatwave. Around 85% of the deaths involved people aged 65 and above.
In Germany, authorities reported a new overnight temperature record in Kubschütz, eastern Saxony, where the mercury did not fall below 29.4°C (84.9°F). The reading came just hours after a daytime high of 41.5°C (106.7°F) was recorded in Möckern-Drewitz in Saxony-Anhalt, according to preliminary data from the German Weather Service (DWD). Officials said the previous record had been set only a day earlier.
Elsewhere, extreme heat fuelled wildfires in parts of Germany, including Gohrischheide in eastern Saxony, where flames spread through a forest contaminated with World War II-era ammunition, complicating firefighting operations and increasing risks for emergency crews.
A major firefighting operation was also underway in southwest Germany near the town of Traisen, where extreme heat triggered a forest blaze in an area contaminated with unexploded ordnance. According to German news agency dpa, firefighting efforts were temporarily halted after explosions were reported, prompting the deployment of an ordnance disposal unit to continuously assess the situation.
Meanwhile, fire services in several major cities were stretched as ambulances were dispatched to treat residents suffering from heat-related illnesses. In Berlin alone, authorities recorded an additional 500 ambulance call-outs on Saturday, most linked to heat stress.
In the German capital, police adopted an unusual approach to help residents and tourists cope with the soaring temperatures. Two large water cannons—typically used for crowd control—were positioned in front of the iconic Brandenburg Gate and used to spray cooling water over crowds who gathered in relief.
The extreme heat has also begun to strain infrastructure across the country. Sections of motorway have suffered damage as concrete surfaces cracked and buckled, while national rail operator Deutsche Bahn issued weekend warnings urging passengers to avoid unnecessary travel.
In the eastern city of Leipzig, tram services were suspended until early Monday due to heat-related damage to tracks and switching systems. The city’s public transport authority said the high temperatures had caused sealants used in asphalt and concrete joints to melt and accumulate, disrupting rail operations across the network.
Elsewhere in Europe, Greece remained on high alert for wildfire risks. The country’s Civil Protection agency issued a “very high fire risk” warning for five regions on Sunday, as dry conditions continued to heighten the threat of fast-spreading blazes across its mountainous mainland and numerous inhabited islands.
