Europe is facing a severe heatwave hitting the center and east of the continent in particular, with consequences going beyond the thermometer: fires, drought, pressure on energy systems and restrictions on water supply. Data published by the relevant authorities and institutions point to a situation worsening on several fronts at once.
Record temperatures in several countries
In Slovakia, the hydrometeorological agency announced that 42 degrees Celsius was recorded in the city of Dolné Plachtince, one of the highest values ever noted in the country.
Austria also reported historic temperatures, with 41.2 degrees Celsius. According to experts, the combination of extreme heat, drought and winds is significantly increasing the risk of wildfires spreading.
The heat crisis is also affecting energy
The consequences are not being felt only in health and the environment. In Poland, authorities temporarily suspended operations at two coal-fired power plants, Kozienice and Połaniec, after the very low water level in the Vistula River limited cooling systems.
According to official data, about 1.3 gigawatts of power capacity were temporarily removed from the Polish grid. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on employers to provide cooler spaces and drinking water for workers during the extreme temperatures.
Germany reports thousands of deaths
In Germany, the heatwave has also prompted a public response. Climate activists protested outside the chancellery, calling for stronger measures against the use of fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, according to new estimates from the Robert Koch Institute, around 11,900 people have died this summer because of high temperatures. The toll shifts the debate beyond a seasonal alarm and raises serious questions about institutional preparedness to cope with extreme episodes.
Fires, falling rivers and warnings for the weeks ahead
According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System, about 500,000 hectares of land have burned in the European Union since the start of the year, mainly in Spain and France. Experts say conditions for wildfire spread have reached record levels for this period.
In the Czech Republic, fire risk was more than 50% higher than the previous record, while in Slovakia it was about 32% higher. Prolonged drought has also lowered the levels of Europe’s main rivers: in Hungary, the Danube is being closely monitored, while in Germany the low level of the Rhine has forced commercial vessels to carry fewer goods.
According to meteorologists, the heatwave could last for the coming weeks as well, and a significant change in the weather is not expected before the middle of the month. Climate data also show that 2026 is heading toward becoming one of the hottest years ever recorded globally, while July in Europe is reported as one of the hottest.
In Poland, environmental experts have warned of the stark irony of this crisis: power plants that contribute to climate change are increasingly facing its direct consequences.
Experts insist that reducing the use of fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy remain among the main measures to curb the damage and protect water resources on a continent increasingly entering a regime of extremes.