A relentless heatwave sweeping across Europe has claimed the lives of four people — two in Spain and two in France — and sparked multiple emergencies, including forest fires, a nuclear reactor shutdown, and widespread power outages.
In Spain, officials reported that two people died in a forest fire in the Catalonia region on Tuesday, as soaring temperatures intensified fire risks across the country, according to international news agencies.
Spain has also recorded its hottest June on record, amplifying concerns over the frequency and severity of climate-related disasters.
In France, the Ministry of Energy confirmed the deaths of two individuals attributed to extreme heat. Additionally, 300 people were hospitalized with heat-related illnesses. French Energy Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher noted that this June was France’s hottest since 2003, underscoring the growing impact of climate change.
The heatwave has also affected Switzerland, where the nuclear energy company Axpo announced the shutdown of one reactor unit at the Beznau nuclear power plant.
Production at another reactor was cut by 50% due to dangerously high river water temperatures, which are essential for cooling the reactors.
Meanwhile, France’s national electricity distributor reported power outages for around 8,000 customers as underground electrical infrastructure failed under prolonged heat stress.
The company explained that several days of intense temperatures, with no relief at night, led to asphalt overheating, putting excess pressure on underground cables and triggering system faults.
Climate researchers have attributed such extreme weather events to the effects of climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial practices. According to global climate data, 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded on Earth.
As temperatures continue to rise across the continent, European governments and emergency services remain on high alert for further wildfires, heat-related health risks, and infrastructure failures.
