Highway Melts, Records Fall as Europe Heat Wave Moves East

BERLIN (AP) — A heat wave that baked western Europe this week moved east on Saturday, breaking temperature records in Switzerland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. The extreme heat also caused a German highway to burst. The Danish Meteorological Institute reported a new record of 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) in Ødum, north of Aarhus. It was the warmest day there since records began in 1874. Switzerland set a new national record of 38.8 C (101.8 F) in the city of Basel. In Germany, temperatures were expected to hit 40 C (104 F). The concrete of the A2 highway near Berlin burst due to the heat, forcing a closure. Other road damage was reported across the country, according to German daily Bild. Train operator Deutsche Bahn advised against all non-essential travel this weekend. The Czech Republic also saw its hottest day on record, with 40.6 C (105 F) in the northern town of Doksany. Forecasters said it may still rise. **Nursing home evacuated in Germany** In the western German city of Dormagen, dozens of residents were evacuated from a nursing home due to dangerous heat. The local fire department said temperatures inside the building reached 35 C (95 F). Air conditioning is not common in many European countries. A resident at the home died overnight, but it was not yet clear if the heat was the cause, a city spokesperson said. **French hospitals under pressure** In France, temperatures began to ease, but hospitals remained under intense pressure from heat-related emergencies. The Paris public hospital authority said it activated its emergency response plan across all 38 hospitals. The authority treated nearly 3,000 patients in 24 hours, over a third more than normal. Many were over 75 and required hospitalization. Phone calls to medical dispatch centers were up nearly 80% compared to the same period in 2025. The high temperatures forced the postponement of the Paris Pride march and the cancellation of a three-day music festival. Officials said the temperatures this week have been higher than during the historic 2003 heat wave, which was blamed for 15,000 deaths. However, they said improved treatment methods may result in fewer deaths this time. **UK heat eases after three record days** In the UK, sweltering conditions began to ease. The country smashed its record for the hottest June day three days in a row. Friday reached 37.3 C (99 F) in eastern England. Police recovered the body of a 22-year-old man from a river after he reportedly got into difficulty in the water. Authorities warned people to be careful when swimming in unsupervised areas. **Italy’s cities on red alert** In Italy, 18 cities, including Venice, Florence, Bologna, and Milan, remained under red heat alerts. Tourists in Rome tried to cool off at public fountains. **Climate change link** A new study from the World Weather Attribution group said the record-breaking heat and humidity in Europe this week would not have been possible without climate change. The study found the heat is 200 times more likely today than it was 20 years ago. The president of the UN climate talks, André Corrêa do Lago, said the heat wave “helped strengthen the perception of urgency of fighting climate change.”