Amman: More than 1,300 people have died since June 21 as an extreme heatwave continues to grip Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday.
According to Jordan News Agency, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X, stating, "Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average. Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling." Several countries have recorded unprecedented temperatures. Denmark reached 37 C for the first time since records began in 1874, while the Czech Republic exceeded 40 C for the first time, recording 40.6 C. Germany also set a new national high of 41.5 C.
As the heatwave spread across northeastern Europe, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Hungary declared the highest level of heat alert.
Health authorities warned that the extreme temperatures are increasing deaths from heatstroke, drowning, heart attacks, and other heat-related complications.