France has reported around 1,000 additional deaths during last week’s record-breaking heat wave. Extreme temperatures also sparked wildfires in Germany and Berlin police used water cannons to cool down crowds.

France saw around 1,000 additional deaths last week at the height of its record-smashing heat wave, the country’s public health agency said Sunday, as the head of the World Health Organization warned that Europe is now the fastest-warming continent and needs to do more to protect its citizens.

Temperature records were toppled in several countries on the weekend, wildfires were sparked in Germany and Berlin police used water cannons to cool down the crowds.

Meanwhile, the heat wave slowly moved toward eastern parts of the continent.

Germany marked a new record for the third day in a row with 41.7 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) in Neißemünde, near the border with Poland, which baked under its new all-time high of 40.5 C (104.9 F). The Czech Republic also experienced its hottest day ever with 41.9 C (107.4 F), up from the previous record of 40.9 degrees Celsius (105.6 F) on Saturday.

  • 🌸𝓯𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻🌸@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    14·
    8 hours ago

    One way is because the heart has to work extra hard to keep the body cool enough. Elderly or people with heart problems are at risk as their heart just can’t take the extra load and goes into cardiac arrest. The heat also comes with dehydration what puts even more load in the heart.

    edit: and the problem is compounded again with certain medications, and elderly or people with existing medical issues are the ones using the most medication.