Europe at 39 C, India at 48 C: Deadly Heatwave Engulfs the Globe
- Input
- 2026-05-28 17:21:30
- Updated
- 2026-05-28 17:21:30
1 C the previous day, breaking the record for the highest May temperature. The country had already experienced its earliest tropical night on record on the 25th, when temperatures failed to fall below 20 C overnight. Heat health alerts remain in effect across England.
Amid the heatwave, a total of nine drowning incidents have occurred across seas, rivers, and lakes in the United Kingdom since the 24th. Seven of the nine victims were teenagers or children. In response, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution issued a water safety warning on the day, saying, "When temperatures reach 25 C, the risk of accidental drowning increases fivefold, and teenagers and young adults are more likely to lose their lives.
8 C in La Roche-sur-Yon in the west on the 26th. Orange heat alerts were issued for eight regional authorities in western France. Météo-France said temperatures could climb as high as 39 C in the coming days.French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said the previous day that seven people had died in recent days in incidents directly or indirectly linked to the heatwave. "Of those, five were drownings, and there was also a death caused by the heat during a sports event," she said. The recent heatwave in Europe is being driven by a heat dome, in which hot air moving north from North Africa has become trapped under a high-pressure system over Western Europe.
In a related statement, Simon Stiell, secretary-general of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said, "The recent heatwave in Europe is a brutal reminder of the growing impact of the climate crisis on both people and the economy. " He warned that "the world’s addiction to burning coal, oil and gas and destroying forests is the main culprit.
" India sees a surge in heatstroke deaths. South Asia faces water and power shortages as Middle East war worsens energy crunch In South Asia, including India and Bangladesh, the energy crunch caused by the war in the Middle East has combined with the heatwave, leading to deaths from heat-related illnesses, livestock deaths, and widespread blackouts.
In India, where daytime temperatures during heatwaves can soar to around 50 C, 37 people have recently died from heatstroke. The heatwave has continued across the country since last month, and some areas have seen daytime highs above 48 C.
1 C the previous day, breaking the record for the highest May temperature. The country had already experienced its earliest tropical night on record on the 25th, when temperatures failed to fall below 20 C overnight. Heat health alerts remain in effect across England.
Power demand hit a record 270 GW last week, and blackouts were reported in parts of the south. In Rajasthan, livestock died from water shortages, and residents were seen lining up at wells from dawn.
Bangladesh is facing a similar situation. Temperatures have climbed to 37 C since the end of last month.Although Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest garment producer, workers are suffering because power supply disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East have made it difficult to use cooling equipment properly. Jahangir Alam, who works in the garment industry, said, "Many small and medium-sized garment manufacturers often minimize the use of fans and other cooling equipment because running generators during blackouts is too expensive.
" Kalpona Akter, secretary-general of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity, a labor rights group, said many workers are complaining of cramps and fainting in the unbearable heat.
whywani@fnnews.com Hong Chaewan Reporter