Deadly heat shatters records in Europe

BERLIN/MILAN — A record-breaking heat wave tightened its grip on Europe on Sunday, claiming lives, shattering temperature records and disrupting transport and power systems as it spread farther east across the continent.

The World Health Organization said more than 1,300 excess deaths had been recorded across Europe since June 21, including around 1,000 in France during the three hottest days of the heat wave, when about 85 percent of the victims were aged 65 or older.

At least 191 million people are forecast to endure temperatures of at least 35 C on Sunday in Europe, with preliminary all-time temperature records set in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, according to Agence France-Presse estimates.

Saturday's preliminary German record of 41.5 C was set in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany's Meteorological Service said. In the western German city of Dormagen, dozens of residents of a nursing home were evacuated for medical care due to dangerous heat conditions.

Officials in the Czech Republic measured a record 40.9 C north of Prague, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said.

In Switzerland, a record of 38.8 C was set in the city of Basel. The Danish Meteorological Institute, meanwhile, reported a 37 C reading north of the city of Aarhus on Saturday, the highest on record since measurements began in 1874.

Temperatures above 40 C have disrupted rail travel and power generation, sparked wildfires, prompted alcohol bans, suspended classes and postponed outdoor events.

The heating up of the River Danube led Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant to cut output on one of its reactors. Earlier, Switzerland's Beznau nuclear power station temporarily shut down its reactors due to the temperature of the River Aare.

German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn allowed customers to cancel long-distance travel into early next week. Another operator, National Express, said it suspended some trains on Saturday afternoon in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, as a precaution.

The extreme heat also fueled forest fires in parts of Germany, complicating firefighting efforts in some areas.

Italy's health ministry issued a red alert for 18 cities due to the heat waves. The flow of the River Po has dropped dramatically, with seawater advancing deep inland, posing threats to local farming and the ecosystem of Italy's most important waterway.

In Switzerland, the Lausanne Pride march had extra water fountains and first responders, while Milan's Pride march was moved back to 5 pm to mitigate the heat's impact.

A new study from World Weather Attribution, a Europe-based collaboration of scientists, reported Friday that the heat would have been virtually impossible just five decades ago without human-caused climate change, and is 200 times more likely today than it was 20 years ago.

The most extreme heat was forecast to ease over the weekend, although heavy thunderstorms had already swept across parts of northern Europe, including Denmark.

AGENCIES-XINHUA