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Europe Buckles Under Persistent Early-Summer Heatwave

New workplace rules require shade, hydration, extended breaks under red alerts to shield outdoor labourers from relentless heat

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MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 14: Air conditioning units are seen on the exterior of apartment buildings as temperatures continue to soar on July 14, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. Europe is currently experiencing the most sustained period of extreme hot weather in 50 years. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)
Air conditioning units on the exterior of a hotel during a heatwave in the Marques de Pombal district of Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.
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Overview

  • Red alerts remain across several countries as temperatures continue to rise 5–10°C above seasonal averages
  • At least nine heat-related deaths have been reported in Italy, Spain and France while hospital emergency departments see up to 20% increases in admissions
  • Swiss utility Axpo shut one reactor and halved output at another at the Beznau plant after river water temperatures exceeded safety limits
  • More than 1,350 schools in France and the summit of the Eiffel Tower remain closed as public sites face ongoing shutdowns to reduce heat exposure
  • Wildfires in western Turkey have displaced over 50,000 people and prompted evacuations as authorities battle blazes worsened by extreme temperatures