Catastrophic heat in Europe: Roads and traffic lights melted, highways broken, more than 1300 people died

Europe is currently in the grip of an unprecedented and deadly heatwave, which has swept the entire continent. With temperatures reaching record levels, the situation has become so dire that the infrastructure there is beginning to fail. From Berlin to Italy, the asphalt on roads is melting and traffic lights are bending like melting plastic. So far, more than 1300 people have died due to heat wave, which has increased the concern of European countries.

Highways broken in Germany, transport wheels stopped

The heat in Germany has had the biggest impact on the transport network. The A2 motorway linking Berlin with Western Germany collapsed due to the extreme heat, forcing the closure of several interchanges. The condition of the highway in Geisar, Brandenburg has become so bad that it has become unsafe for vehicles to drive there. Additionally, temperatures in the city of Leipzig became so high that the asphalt surface of the road began to melt, forcing tram services to be interrupted. Police have to resort to water cannons to bring down the temperature on the streets of Berlin.

Traffic lights melting in France-Italy

The situation is dire in France and Italy also. Many such videos of Italy and Germany are going viral on social media, in which traffic lights installed at intersections are seen melting due to strong sunlight and humidity. Trains are running late and there are massive power cuts. Accidents have also increased with people turning to water bodies to get relief from the heat. There have been 74 cases of drowning in France since June 18, while in Poland 17 people lost their lives in a single day.

Double blow to war-torn Ukraine and Denmark

The strange thing is that even in Denmark, famous for its power grids, the demand has exceeded the supply, due to which the Energy Ministry there has to think about grid expansion. On the other hand, this scorching heat has become a double trouble for Ukraine which is facing war with Russia. Restrictions have been imposed on electricity consumption from Ivano-Frankivsk to Zaporizhia, located on the frontline. According to Sergiy Kovalenko, CEO of the electricity company ‘Yasno’, this summer is a big test for the war-ravaged electricity grids. Experts believe that the infrastructure of European countries was not built to withstand such extreme heat, and is now revealing the dangers of climate change.