Kathmandu— Devastating wildfires, prolonged drought, and record-breaking temperatures have marked a ravaging track of heatwaves during this summer in the Northern Hemisphere. In Europe, Hungary announced its 'most critical five days' ahead due to the shutdown of its sole nuclear power plant, while Greece battles blazes fanned by strong winds. South Korea registered its highest temperature on record at 42.5 degrees Celsius, and extreme heat advisories were issued across parts of the western United States.

Heatwaves Claim Lives Across Europe

In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported about 9,800 heat-related deaths by July 19, surpassing the whole-year figure recorded for any year since 2016. Britain saw nearly twice as many heat-related deaths in May and June compared to previous years, with 2,877 fatalities. France recorded an excess mortality rate of 36 percent during its recent heatwave.

Droughts Impact Water Levels and Economy

Heatwaves and little rain have led to increasingly lowering water levels in the Danube River, affecting agricultural irrigation, fishing industry, river transport, tourism, and other economic activities. Slovakia's Bratislava/Devin Danube monitoring station recorded its lowest-ever flow rate for July since 1876 at about 725 cubic meters per second. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management reported the water level of the Rhine dropped to its lowest level in the Netherlands, expected to fall further due to prolonged drought.

Wildfires Spread Across Europe and North America

Exacerbated by prolonged heatwaves and drought, a wildfire crisis is moving eastward for the forest fire season in Europe. Spain has suffered one of its worst wildfire seasons in decades with more than 200,000 hectares burned so far this summer, twice its historical annual average. Across Europe, over 434,000 hectares have already burned this year, including 42,000 hectares of pine forest in France's Gironde region. The United States has recorded approximately 1,849,000 hectares burned so far in 2026, while Canada has experienced more than 4,000 wildfires that have already burned 3,770,000 hectares.

Climate Change and El Niño Intensify the Crisis

Every summer reminds us that wildfire is no longer an exceptional event but an increasingly predictable consequence of a warming climate. Climate change drives more frequent and intense wildfires, while massive carbon emissions from these fires further accelerate global warming, creating a dangerous feedback loop that worsens both problems. Western Europe — including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal — is warming faster than many other parts of the world, making it more prone to heatwaves.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.