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Europe continues to endure an intense heatwave, with the UK and Switzerland recording their hottest June temperatures on record as soaring heat contributes to deaths, health emergencies, and widespread disruption.

The UK registered a provisional June record of 36.7°C (98.1°F) in Merryfield, Somerset, surpassing Wednesday’s record of 36.1°C in Gosport, Hampshire. The previous June record of 35.6°C had stood since 1976.

Switzerland also experienced unprecedented June heat, with temperatures exceeding 37°C for the first time since records began. The weather agency MétéoSuisse reported that 38°C was measured at Basel, breaking a record that had stood since 1947.

Heat Linked to Child Deaths and Medical Emergencies

France remains one of the countries hardest hit by the extreme temperatures. Nearly three-quarters of the country is under an extreme heat alert as authorities respond to mounting health emergencies.

A three-year-old boy died after becoming trapped inside his family’s car near Paris. Investigators believe the child climbed into the vehicle while believed to be asleep and was unable to escape after the doors automatically locked. The tragedy marks the third child death linked to the ongoing heatwave in France this week.

Emergency services across the country have reported a sharp rise in heat-related incidents. Paris alone recorded 25 cardiac arrests within 24 hours, compared with the usual daily average of fewer than 10. Nationwide, hospital emergency departments have seen heat-related visits increase fourfold.

Officials have also reported rising deaths in the capital, although exact figures have not yet been released.

Widespread Impact Across Europe

The heatwave has affected much of western Europe, with an estimated 101 million people experiencing temperatures above 35°C.

In Spain, preliminary estimates suggest the heatwave may have contributed to 212 deaths between Sunday and Wednesday. Northern regions, which are typically cooler, experienced temperatures above 40°C, while the village of Tama reached a record 43.7°C.

Italy has also suffered serious consequences. Courts in Palermo suspended non-urgent hearings after air conditioning systems failed, while local media reported five heat-related deaths, including two farm workers and a construction worker.

Germany is preparing for temperatures between 35°C and 41°C, prompting warnings of wildfire risks and transport disruptions. Open-air sporting events have been cancelled, and Deutsche Bahn has advised passengers to avoid unnecessary travel.

The Netherlands has issued a rare red heat warning as temperatures continue to climb.

Infrastructure Under Pressure

The extreme heat is placing significant strain on public infrastructure.

In France, three nuclear reactors were temporarily shut down because river water used for cooling became too warm. Authorities have also opened parks and gardens in Paris to provide relief for residents living in overheated homes and have introduced measures to help students sitting national examinations.

In the UK, schools have closed in some areas, rail services have faced disruptions, and South East Water introduced a hosepipe ban affecting around 850,000 customers in Kent due to soaring demand.

London Ambulance Service handled a record 642 Category 1 emergency calls on Wednesday, while emergency services in Hampshire continue searching for a 15-year-old boy who disappeared while swimming in a lake.

Climate Change Intensifying Heatwaves

Scientists say climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions has made Europe’s current heatwave significantly more severe, estimating temperatures are 2°C to 4°C higher than they would have been without human-caused global warming.

Health experts warn that thousands of premature deaths are likely to be linked to the ongoing heat, although comprehensive assessments will take time. In the UK alone, more than 10,000 people died during summer heatwaves between 2020 and 2024, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

The agency has extended its red heat-health alert until Friday evening, while the Met Office has also prolonged its highest-level weather warning for southeast England.

Calls for Faster Climate Action

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell described the heatwave as another reminder of the growing impacts of climate change, saying communities, healthcare systems, schools and economies are increasingly being affected by extreme temperatures.

He urged governments to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and strengthen efforts to protect forests, warning that heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires will become increasingly severe unless global emissions are reduced.

Meanwhile, the UK Parliament has approved a legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 87% by 2040, following recommendations from the Climate Change Committee, which has warned that much of the country’s infrastructure is no longer suited to today’s changing climate.

London has also launched its first citywide heat resilience plan, including measures to expand tree cover, improve access to cooling spaces and water, and retrofit homes most vulnerable to overheating.

Environmental groups say the record-breaking temperatures highlight the urgent need for climate adaptation as Europe faces increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.