An American writer in Paris said the heat was not 'nearly as apocalyptic' as media suggested, while 20km away, 60-year-old Aboubakar wept as he described 40°C temperatures in his flat, unable to afford a fan. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Professor Julio Díaz Jiménez from Madrid's Carlos III health institute: 'A heatwave is not the same when you're in a shared room with three other people and no air conditioning, as when you're in a villa with access to a pool and air conditioning.'
The recent heatwave affected up to 150 million people from Bordeaux to Budapest. Parisians slept in parks, Berlin police used water cannons, and Amsterdam households hung curtains outside windows.
In the UK, hotels reported a surge in demand for air-conditioned rooms. In wealthy areas west of Paris, towns banned access to municipal pools for outsiders. In Germany, a public swimming lake turned away non-German speakers.
Half of French homes have insufficient protection from high temperatures. Many people suffer in heat-trap homes. Workers in agriculture and construction are regularly exposed to high temperatures.
Asad Rehman, CEO of Friends of the Earth: 'The heat throws a grenade into every vulnerability you already have.'
Research suggests extreme heat and inequality could cause over 100,000 deaths a year in Europe. France recorded about 1,000 excess deaths between 24-27 June, while Spain linked over 600 deaths to the heatwave.
The Democracy in Europe Movement 2025: 'This heat is not only a climate emergency, but it is also a class war. The rich burn the planet, then buy air conditioning, private pools and second homes while workers are left in overheated flats, unsafe jobs.'