Overview
- The World Health Organization on June 23 labeled the ongoing western European heatwave an emergency sanitary situation because soaring temperatures are putting lives at risk and increasing pressure on health systems.
- France has recorded dozens of drownings as people sought water for relief and local prosecutors are investigating high‑profile cases including two young children found dead in a parked car in Carpentras.
- National meteorological agencies logged many local records with multiple stations above 43–44°C and forecasters said the heat is driven by a slow, high‑pressure 'Omega' block that traps hot air near the surface.
- Italy raised its highest 'bollino rosso' alerts to 16–17 cities, hospitals activated 'code heat' procedures and cities from Milan to Naples reported blackouts and higher emergency calls as electricity demand surged.
- Authorities have closed schools and major cultural sites, cut rail services and imposed emergency plans to protect vulnerable people, and scientists say human-driven climate warming has made such extreme events more likely.