Spain Warns 212 May Have Died in 38C Heat Wave as Europe Stays 10C Above Normal
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 25
Spain Warns 212 May Have Died in 38C Heat Wave as Europe Stays 10C Above Normal
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 25
Summary
Spain’s health ministry said as many as 212 people may have died after several days above 38C, making the heat wave’s toll the clearest sign yet of its danger.
More than a dozen European countries remained under high-level alerts on Thursday, with temperatures running about 10C above normal and many areas still in the high 30s to low 40s Celsius.
France activated its highest-level health system emergency as hospitals came under strain; nearly 120,000 homes briefly lost power and one nuclear plant in the southwest was shut over overheated river water.
France also logged its hottest nationwide day on record Wednesday, while Paris hit 40.3C and Britain set a provisional June record of 36.1C.
Forecasters expect western Europe to start cooling from Friday, but the episode is the continent’s second major heat wave in two months, underscoring how fast Europe is warming.