Poland Records First Heat-Related Death as Europe Bakes
© AP Photo / Alessandra Tarantino
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The first fatality linked to the ongoing heat wave sweeping across Poland has been recorded in the eastern city of Chelm, local authorities said.
The first fatality linked to the ongoing heat wave sweeping across Poland has been recorded in the eastern city of Chelm, local authorities said.
The extreme temperatures have gripped Poland for several days, with daytime highs in the shade exceeding 27 degrees Celsius (80.6 degrees Fahrenheit) across most regions. In the western town of Slubice, a record-breaking 40.5 degrees Celsius was registered on Sunday.
"Today, a woman passed away at the closed Glinianki beach, which is currently under renovation. The probable cause is the body's reaction to the extreme heat," Mayor Jakub Banaszek told reporters.
Local police confirmed that heat exposure was considered the most likely explanation.
"Preliminary findings rule out foul play or drowning. The woman appears to have been sunbathing by the water," the police said.
The oppressive heat has also disrupted rail travel, with the PKP Intercity national operator announcing dozens of cancellations.
At least 21 trains were called off on Monday, affecting services to Szczecin, Gdynia, Krakow, Poznan, Berlin, Katowice, Wroclaw, and Warsaw. A minimum of six more trains have already been canceled for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the highest alert level has been declared in 35 counties of Romania, with humidity expected to rise alongside temperatures, the National Meteorological Administration said on Monday.
"Extremely high maximum temperatures will be recorded, comparable to absolute June records, with particularly strong thermal discomfort, and the temperature-humidity index will exceed the critical threshold of 80 units. Maximum temperatures will range from 35°C [95°F] to 41°C. A red code alert is in effect from 10:00 a.m. [07:00 GMT] on June 29," the agency said.
Only six out of 42 counties would be under an orange alert, the agency added.
Romania's health ministry has recommended avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and advises those with air conditioning to set the temperature about 5 degrees below the ambient temperature, while fans should not be used when temperatures exceed 32 degrees Celsius.
Earlier, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that over 1,300 excess deaths had been recorded since 21 June "linked to high temperatures in Europe".
On Sunday, France's national health ministry said there had been around 1,000 more deaths than expected in the country since Wednesday.
