health
Extreme heat breaks temperature records in central and eastern Europe
Slovakia reaches new high of 42C as authorities in Poland forced to shut down Kozienice and Połaniec power plants
TL;DR
- Record temperatures have been broken in Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary.
- Low water levels in the Vistula River forced the shutdown of two Polish coal-fired power plants.
- Climate activists protested in Germany against the government's inaction on extreme heat.
- An estimated 11,900 people have died from heat in Germany this summer.
- The Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary is partially back online, but electricity consumption reduction is still needed.
- The ongoing heat and drought are supercharged by the climate crisis, impacting populations, infrastructure, and wildlife.
- The EU has seen about half a million hectares burned this year, primarily in Spain and France.
- Fire weather severity has set new records in several European countries.
- Global heating has made recent hot, dry, and windy weather significantly more likely in Spain and France.