Germany scorches under hottest heatwave so far in 2026

HotTV

Germany scorches under hottest heatwave so far in 2026

2026-06-25 13:19 Last Updated At：16:03

Germany is sweltering through its most intense heatwave of the year, with meteorologists warning that temperatures in western and southwestern regions could climb to nearly 40 degrees Celsius.

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), a persistent high-pressure system is channeling warm air from the south into the country. Western and southwestern German regions are facing a heat wave, with some areas likely to shatter local June temperature records.

"The heat is really extreme today. It could hit 40 degrees Celsius. For this area, such weather is truly rare. Most buildings here were not designed for temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, and maybe only two percent have air conditioning. If it really exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, it could be very tough for the elderly," said one local resident in the Rhine region.

Despite the blistering conditions, many residents in Nordrhein-Westfalen, west Germany, are still out along riverbanks of Rhine River, strolling and cycling, while ice creams and chilled beverage saw a surge in customers seeking relief from the heat.

Beyond affecting daily life, the soaring temperatures are also taking a toll on the Rhine River itself. Prolonged heat has caused a significant rise in water temperatures in both the Rhine and one of its major tributaries, the Moselle. Experts warn that warmer water holds less oxygen, putting stress on fish populations and the broader river ecosystem.

Local authorities have urged the public to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, stay well-hydrated, and pay special attention to vulnerable groups, including the elderly and young children, as the heatwave is expected to persist in the coming days.

DR Congo Ebola deaths top 3,000 as WHO warns risks of unclear transmission chains

The death toll from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has surpassed 3,000, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned the risks of undetected chains of transmission.

As of Aug 31, the DRC had recorded 6,186 confirmed cases and 3,007 deaths, according to an official situation report. A total of 1,409 patients have recovered, while 830 others remain in isolation or Ebola treatment centers.

The outbreak has affected 60 health zones across the six provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, South Kivu and Bas-Uele. Ituri remains the epicenter, accounting for 81.9 percent of all confirmed cases nationwide.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing on Wednesday that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC is moving faster than any previous Ebola outbreaks in the country.

Tedros said that there are still undetected chains of transmission in the current outbreak, adding that many deaths are among people who were not on a list of known contacts.

Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue, he added.

During Tuesday's online briefing, Tom Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, warned that the virus was still outpacing the scaled-up response.

Unless the response efforts are stepped up urgently, more lives will be lost and the threat will grow, he said.

The UN official also revealed that over 40 health workers have died from Ebola while responding to the outbreak, while treatment centers and ambulances have also come under attack.

The current outbreak, declared in May, has since become the country's largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic on record and the second-largest globally, behind the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa.