Heat wave cracks Autobahn and strains transport across Europe
Extreme temperatures damaged German highways, disrupted rail travel and kept hospitals under pressure in France, authorities said.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
A severe heat wave damaged sections of Germany’s Autobahn and disrupted rail travel Saturday as dangerous temperatures shifted across Europe. The transport problems underscored how prolonged heat is testing infrastructure and emergency services in countries built for milder summers.
German authorities reported highway damage and train cancellations as temperatures were forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 Fahrenheit, according to the Associated Press. Outside Berlin, concrete on the A2 highway broke apart in two locations, forcing closures, while other road damage was reported around the country, German daily Bild said.
Deutsche Bahn and other rail operators urged passengers to avoid nonessential trips on long-distance and regional trains over the weekend. “Germany’s transportation infrastructure is being severely affected by the record-breaking heat this weekend,” Deutsche Bahn said in a statement.
Nursing home evacuated in western Germany
In Dormagen, a city in western Germany, dozens of nursing home residents were moved for medical treatment because of hazardous heat inside the building, local officials said. The fire department reported indoor temperatures of 35 C, or 95 F.
Air conditioning is not common in Germany and many other European countries, where buildings have historically been designed for cooler conditions, the Associated Press reported. A city spokesperson told the German news agency dpa that one resident died overnight, though officials had not determined whether heat played a role.
French hospitals see heat-related surge
In France, the hottest conditions began to ease in some areas, but hospitals still faced heavy demand from heat-related cases, including heart attacks, heatstroke and dehydration, according to the Associated Press. The Paris public hospital authority, AP-HP, said it activated an emergency plan across its 38 hospitals because activity was continuing to rise.
AP-HP said Friday that emergency departments had handled nearly 3,000 patients in 24 hours, more than one-third above normal levels. The authority said many patients were older than 75 and needed hospitalization, while calls to medical dispatch centers were nearly 80% higher than during the same period in 2025.
Three-quarters of France, covering tens of millions of people, was placed under red alert Thursday and Friday as temperatures exceeded 40 C in some places, including Paris, the Associated Press reported. Concern about hospital capacity led organizers to postpone the Paris Pride march for LGBTQ+ rights, and a three-day music festival was canceled.
The heat has drawn comparisons with France’s 2003 heat wave, which was blamed for 15,000 heat-related deaths, many among older residents. Nicolas Revel, AP-HP’s director, said he did not expect Paris hospitals to see deaths on that scale, partly because care for overheating has improved, but he said many deaths were still likely.
Warnings remain in Britain and Italy
In the United Kingdom, an amber heat warning remained in effect until Saturday night, though temperatures were expected to fall gradually, according to the Associated Press. Britain broke its June temperature record three days in a row, with a provisional 37.3 C reading in eastern England on Friday.
British police said Saturday that the body of a 22-year-old man was recovered from a river after reports that he had struggled in the water during the heat wave. Authorities have warned against swimming in unsupervised rivers and lakes after about 40 deaths in France over the past week, the Associated Press reported.
Italy’s health ministry said 18 cities were under red alert Saturday, including Venice, Florence, Bologna, Milan and Rome. In the Italian capital, tourists sought shade, used public fountains to cool off and bought water, hats and umbrellas from street vendors, according to the Associated Press.
A rapid study by World Weather Attribution, a Europe-based scientific collaboration, said the week’s extreme heat and humidity in Europe would not have been possible without climate change. The group found the event would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago and is 200 times more likely today than it would have been 20 years ago.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.