A rare and deadly heatwave is sweeping across Western Europe, with extreme heat also hitting multiple regions in India. On Tuesday (May 26), the UK broke a century-old May temperature record for the second time within 24 hours, with Kew Gardens in London recording an extreme temperature of 35.1°C.
During this early arrival of the heatwave, both the UK and France have reported at least 12 related or suspected heat-related deaths, many of which are associated with drowning incidents while people sought relief by swimming. Meanwhile, in northern India, the extreme heat and dry weather have increased the risk of forest fires, with over 40 heat-related deaths reported in southern states.
The UK Met Office stated that London’s Kew Gardens recorded 35.1°C on Tuesday, breaking the previous day’s record of 34.8°C set at the same location, surpassing the historical high of 32.8°C set in 1922 and matched in 1944.
Due to the heatwave arriving before lifeguards are stationed at popular beaches for the summer season, the risk of drowning while swimming to cool off has increased, leading to multiple drowning incidents reported in both England and France.
French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon stated that France has received at least 7 reports of deaths possibly related to the heat, including 5 drowning incidents.
Authorities in the UK reported that since Sunday, at least 4 teenagers have died in suspected drowning incidents in lakes or reservoirs in England, with a 60-year-old man also found dead in the southwest coastal waters.
The UK Health Security Agency issued amber health alerts for most parts of the country, continuing until Thursday, warning of potential health risks during the hottest times of the day, especially for the elderly. The UK, known for its mild temperatures, lacks widespread air conditioning in many homes, schools, and businesses, making this heatwave particularly challenging.
This untimely heat also extended to Spain, where a spokesperson from the Spanish Meteorological Department, Rubén del Campo, told the Associated Press: “We are currently in May, but experiencing temperatures typically seen in midsummer.”
He stated that Seville reached a temperature of 38°C (100°F) over the weekend, with most areas of the Iberian Peninsula experiencing temperatures 5°C to 10°C above normal levels. In Rome, the temperature was estimated to reach 32°C on Tuesday.
In India’s Himachal Pradesh, the extreme heatwave and prolonged drought have led to serious forest fires, destroying local wooden structures and threatening residential areas.
A shop owner in Solan district, Monu Gupta, expressed to The Indian Express after witnessing his shop burn down: “The fire has caused immense loss, with various items like mixers in my shop and since the shop is made of wood, the damage is severe. Upstairs, five or six families live.”
Experts point out that the highly flammable long-leaf pine trees in the region are contributing to the wildfires, as their dry pine needles act as fuel in the hot and dry weather, easily sparking large-scale disasters.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, temperatures in most parts of the country range between 40°C to 43°C, with places like Banda in Uttar Pradesh recording temperatures as high as 47.6°C.
The streets of Delhi feel like an oven, with people attempting to cool down by splashing water, only to see it evaporate within a minute. Some have conducted experiments by cracking eggs on the pavement, finding that they cook in just 3 minutes. Under the scorching sun, rooftop water tanks have become scalding hot, and taking a shower with “cold water” might even result in burns.
This heatwave has also led to over 40 heat-related fatalities in just 2 days in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in southern India.
The heatwave has also severely impacted infrastructure and agriculture in Europe. In London, commuters are enduring high temperatures in subway carriages without air conditioning, while some train tracks have faced disruptions due to the heat-related issues.
In France, temperature fluctuations have forced fruit farmers to harvest apricots earlier, with fruit farmer Benjamin Boisson expressing concerns about a significant drop in yield and disruptions in the supply chain.
He mentioned, “Retailers are not prepared yet. They are still selling Spanish apricots, but it should be switched to French products.”
Scientists believe that such extreme events are closely linked to global climate change. Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, stated, “These record-breaking high temperatures everywhere are a clear fingerprint of climate change.”
Peter Thorne, director of the Irish Climate Research Center at Maynooth University, also emphasized that greenhouse gases are making heatwaves more frequent and severe.