Record heatwave triggers health alerts and historic low river levels across Europe

Extreme heat and severe drought continue to affect large parts of Europe, driving record temperatures and widespread water shortages. Italian health authorities extended red health alerts to all 27 major cities as extreme weather posed public health risks, while Austria set new local temperature records. In Germany, the national weather service forecasted peak temperatures of up to 39 degrees Celsius alongside impending severe thunderstorms.

Major waterways, including the Danube and Rhine, dropped to historic lows. At Kaub in Germany, the Rhine fell to its lowest level since 1880, severely hindering commercial shipping, threatening drinking water supplies, and risking river ecosystems. The receding waters also exposed submerged shipwrecks and ancient mammoth bones. Meanwhile, firefighters battled a large blaze near the German-Dutch border.

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