Germany, Czechia, Poland and Hungary swelter through hottest days on record

Record temperatures above 40C were recorded in Germany, Czechia, Poland and Hungary on Sunday as a heatwave linked to hundreds of deaths in western Europe pushed east. More than 191 million people in Europe faced at least 35C and extreme heat warnings covered large parts of the continent.

Germany set a new all-time high of 41.7C in Coschen, breaking the previous 41.5C in Drewitz; Czechia reported 41.9C in Doksany; Poland reached 40.5C in Słubice; and Hungary hit 40.7C in Budakalász. The heat complicated firefighting operations. A forest fire in Gohrischheide burned in an area contaminated with second world war ammunition, and a major operation at a former munitions disposal site near Traisen was paused after explosions triggered the involvement of a bomb disposal unit and about 650 people were evacuated.

In Berlin police sprayed water cannon into the air to help people cool off, and the rail operator Deutsche Bahn advised against all nonessential travel. Health services reported sharp impacts in several countries.

Germany, Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Coschen, Drewitz, Doksany, Słubice, Budakalász, Gohrischheide, Traisen, Berlin

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