Europe’s brutal heatwave wreaks havoc: Roads & traffic lights melt, schools shut, rail tracks buckle | Watch

The unprecedented heatwave situation in Europe, the world’s fastest warming continent, has derailed normal life as people struggle and officials record hundreds of deaths across several countries.In Germany, roads and highways have been damaged as high temperatures caused asphalt to soften and buckle. Similar reports have emerged from Sweden, Britain, among others, Reuters reported.

In Italy, even higher temperatures are expected over the weekend. In the Netherlands, authorities issued red alerts as temperatures moved close to an unprecedented 40°C, the report added. This has triggered concerns over health risks for older people and outdoor workers.
According to the BBC, this record-breaking June heatwave is driven by a ‘heat dome’ in Europe. In this phenomenon, high pressure traps warm air over a region. The sinking air compresses and heats up near the ground. It also reduces cloud formation, allowing strong sunlight to intensify surface heating. The report cited experts to warn that such events are becoming more frequent due to the impact of climate change.

Roads in the UK began to soften and melt due to intense heat (35°C). pic.twitter.com/eecXWYQHdM

– Zero ???? (@Dave_Gaur) June 28, 2026

Heatwave disrupts normal lifeAcross Europe, an intense heatwave is disrupting daily life. Cultural landmarks have been forced to close and farming has been disrupted across several regions, Reuters report added. In Britain, doctors said that the heat is affecting medical equipment such as MRI scanners in hospitals.

Traffic lights across Europe have begun to melt due to extreme heat.

In Germany, Italy, Spain, and France, temperatures have already surpassed +40°C.As a result, plastic traffic lights are melting and malfunctioning, and the road surface is cracking, leading to widespread… pic.twitter.com/5ASMLiF4CN

— CCTV FOOTAGE (@cctvfootages) June 27, 2026

In Germany, extreme heat caused the A2 motorway to buckle and rupture across several lanes on Thursday evening.In Austria, rail authorities warned that train tracks could buckle in the coming days. In Sweden, a cargo train derailed between Stockholm and Gothenburg after heat warped the rails.

Schools have been closed in many areas and emergency services in London reported a 50% jump in calls. Officials also reported more drowning deaths in rivers, lakes and ponds during the heatwave, especially in unsupervised areas. Many cultural events have been cancelled as the heatwave continues across the continent.

Record temperatures have already been recorded in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1,300 deaths have been linked to high temperatures in Europe since 21 June. Many victims are aged 65 and older.

The European Environment Agency has noted that the severe heatwave sweeping western Europe, including France, Spain and the United Kingdom, could cause up to 90,000 heat-related deaths without adaptation measures.

As a severe heatwave sweeps across western Europe — with France, Spain & the United Kingdom recording some of their highest temperatures on record — EEA’s European Climate Risk Assessment provides a sobering framework for what lies ahead. pic.twitter.com/cs8cNFqRx1

— EU EnvironmentAgency (@EUEnvironment) June 26, 2026