Europe braces for more heat as heatwave intensifies, leading to school closures and train service reductions in multiple countries

(Taipei, June 22) A heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with France already reporting three heat-related deaths over the weekend. The situation is expected to worsen in the coming days, prompting several countries to implement measures such as school closures and reduced train services. Experts point to human factors as the primary driver behind the intensifying heatwaves.

According to Agence France-Presse, 49 out of France's 96 departments have issued red high-temperature alerts, an increase from the 35 departments last weekend. Government authorities announced today that 845 schools will be closed, and an additional 1,800 schools will allow students to leave early.

Several towns have canceled their annual music festivals, and in provinces under red high-temperature alerts, drinking alcohol in public places has been prohibited for health and public order reasons.

Temperatures in some parts of France have soared above 40 degrees Celsius, a level of heat that is extremely rare for June. Local officials in the southwestern Gironde region reported that three individuals, aged between 80 and 95, died, with extreme heat being a contributing factor.

French meteorologists suggest that the current heatwave could be as severe as the one in August 2003, which caused nearly 15,000 deaths in France.

David Dehenauw, chief forecaster at the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, warned that Belgium could face its "highest recorded temperatures" in the coming week.

To prevent damage to railway tracks and lines caused by high temperatures, both France and Belgium have announced reductions in train services.

Akshay Deoras, a senior researcher at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading in the UK, stated that the causes of this series of record-breaking high temperatures are quite clear: "Human-induced climate change has become a springboard for this event, allowing the atmosphere to store more heat, making extreme temperatures more intense than in the past."

Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) warned yesterday that temperatures will reach "extremely high" levels for this season, both day and night, until the 24th, with some areas potentially reaching 44 degrees Celsius. Temperatures are expected to slightly decrease on the 25th but will remain very hot.

In the UK, Liz Bentley, CEO of the Royal Meteorological Society, predicts that the current June high-temperature record in Britain will be "completely broken," similar to what happened in May. "We will see an unprecedented heatwave in the coming week, with temperatures potentially reaching 38 to 39 degrees Celsius, while the current June record is 35.6 degrees Celsius." (Compiled by Chang Ming-hsuan) 1150622

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