Extreme heat persists across Europe as temperature records fall and health warnings expand

A unrelenting fourth summer heatwave continues to grip Europe, pushing temperatures toward 40 degrees Celsius and intensifying public health concerns.

In Italy, health authorities extended top-level red alerts to all 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as meteorologists warned high temperatures could persist for another week. The warnings follow at least four heat-related fatalities in the country.

Meanwhile, Austria recorded a national temperature record of 40.8 degrees Celsius in a suburb of Vienna. In France, health officials reported more than 7,300 excess deaths linked to extreme heat across May, June, and July, during which the country experienced 52 heatwave days.

Forecasters warn that France and the United Kingdom are bracing for further temperature surges, aggravating ongoing severe drought conditions and wildfire risks across Western and Southern Europe.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG