European heatwave triggers record low river levels and health warnings

Europe continues to face an intense heatwave, with temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius in Germany and record highs in Austria. The German Weather Service warned of severe impending thunderstorms, while Italian authorities issued red heat alerts across all 27 major cities, citing a widespread health risk.

Persistent drought and extreme heat have driven water levels along key European rivers, including the Rhine and Danube, to historical lows. At the Kaub gauge in Germany, the Rhine dropped to its lowest point since 1880, severely hindering commercial shipping and threatening groundwater supplies and river ecosystems. The receding waters have also uncovered long-submerged historical artifacts, including ancient shipwrecks and mammoth bones. Emergency services additionally fought a large wildfire near the German-Dutch border.

Sources: Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau