Arabic version: أوروبا تشهد موجة حر قياسية مع عواقب وخيمة

The UK has officially recorded its hottest June day, with temperatures reaching 36.1°C in Gosport, Hampshire. This milestone comes as France also experiences its hottest day ever, following a series of extreme heat events affecting more than 90 million people across Europe. According to The Guardian, the World Health Organization has warned that these extreme temperatures are putting lives at risk.

The previous June record of 35.6°C was set in Camden Square, London, in 1957, and was reached again in Southampton in 1976. The current heatwave has caused significant disruptions, with at least 1,000 schools and nurseries in England and Wales either partially or fully closed. Transport services have also been affected, with authorities urging people to avoid travel due to potential disruptions.

In France, the national heat index reached a new high of 30°C, surpassing the previous record of 29.4°C established during past heatwaves. The French weather service, Météo-France, has placed 72 departments under red alerts for extreme heat, a dramatic increase from 58. Measures such as rescheduling school exams and extending the hours of public swimming pools have been implemented to cope with the heat.

The extreme weather has prompted health officials to emphasize the risks associated with high temperatures. Climate experts point to climate change as a significant factor, noting that temperatures across Europe are rising at nearly twice the global average rate. The WHO’s director general has called for urgent action to bolster resilient health systems and address the climate emergency, stating that the data is clear regarding the increasing severity of heatwaves in the future.