Central Europe is enduring a record-breaking heatwave with unprecedented temperatures in several countries, causing severe disruptions to energy and transport systems across the continent.
According to the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU), on August 5, temperatures in the village of Dolne Plachtince in southern Slovakia reached 42.2 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in the country. Slovakia's only nuclear power plant is operating at 80 percent capacity due to record-low water levels in the Danube River, Europe's second-longest river.
In neighboring Hungary, nighttime temperatures in Budapest on August 4 set a new record, dropping only to 28 degrees Celsius, highlighting the intensity and persistence of the heatwave. The landlocked country is also facing severe water shortages along the Danube. Hungary's sole nuclear power plant, which provides about half of the country's electricity, is now running at just 10 percent capacity.
In Austria, the national meteorological agency said temperatures on August 4 in the village of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, near the Slovak border, reached 41.2 degrees Celsius, marking the highest temperature ever recorded in the country.
Meanwhile, Italy on August 5 placed all 27 major cities under the highest heat alerts for the first time this year. Authorities advised residents to avoid direct sun exposure between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Reports indicate at least four people have died in recent days, including a 19-year-old tomato picker.
Worsening drought conditions in Germany have also forced many businesses to shift cargo from waterways to road transport as river levels drop. This has reduced freight volumes and pushed prices higher.
Scientists warn that extreme summer heat could increasingly become the norm in Europe as the global climate warms. The continent is warming faster than any other region in the world, at twice the global average rate. This summer, thousands of excess deaths have been recorded across Europe during successive heatwaves, while many experts warn that much of the continent's infrastructure was not designed to withstand such temperatures.
