Germany and Italy swelter in heatwave as records tumble across Europe

A man uses an umbrella to shelter from the sun by the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Saturday. Photograph: Filip Singer/EPA View image in fullscreen A man uses an umbrella to shelter from the sun by the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Saturday. Photograph: Filip Singer/EPA Germany and Italy swelter in heatwave as records tumble across Europe Denmark experiences highest temperature on record on Saturday in eastward spread of weather system Europe heatwave – latest updates Germany ⁠and Italy endured sweltering conditions on Saturday as a heatwave linked to dozens of deaths in western Europe spread eastwards, after temperatures broke records above 40C (104F). Denmark registered its highest temperature on record on Saturday, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute. “With 36.6C north of Odense, we have the warmest day ever since measurements began in 1874,” it said in a post on X. Slovakia, meanwhile, confirmed that Friday night was its warmest on record, with temperatures not dropping below 26.3C. Britain, France, Switzerland and Germany have all experienced record heat in June, and the weather system could test more records as it rolls ⁠across Germany towards Poland. Scientists said the ⁠heatwave would have been virtually impossible without human-made ​climate change, which has made this week’s night-time temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been even two decades ago. “The heatwave is going to peak at the weekend at well over 40 degrees in some parts of Germany,” said Karsten Brandt, a meteorologist at the weather ⁠forecasting site Donnerwetter. On Friday, a new German record of 41.3C was reached near the city of Saarbrücken close to the French border, a spokesperson for Germany’s national meteorological service said, noting the reading was still preliminary. The service issued extreme heat warnings for nearly all of Germany on Saturday as authorities ⁠urged people to save water. It said temperatures of 36C were expected across the board in the country, with local highs of 42C possible. In France, dozens of people, both young and old, have ​died during the heatwave. Temperatures above 40C have disrupted rail travel and power generation, prompted alcohol ‌bans and school suspensions, and postponed outdoor events. View image in fullscreen People fill bottles from a public water fountain in Venice on Saturday. Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/AFP/Getty Images Italy’s health ministry issued ‌a red alert for the heatwave in 18 Italian cities including Milan, Rome, Turin, Venice, Genoa, Florence and Bologna for Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 39C in some ‌areas. The French prime minister’s office said although the heatwave was moving on, pressure on the healthcare system would persist and hospitalisations would stay high for several days. Reports of wildfires in France are up compared with the same period last year as a result of the heatwave, officials say. Some public service providers, struggli