Europe Heatwave Closes Eiffel Tower Summit, Causes Wildfires, Deaths

Europe is enduring a record-breaking heatwave in summer 2025, with southern and central regions experiencing unprecedented temperatures that have forced closures and health warnings. The Eiffel Tower in Paris closed its top level to visitors due to safety concerns amid temperatures reaching 104°F (40°C), while hundreds of French schools also shut as heat-related health risks rose sharply. Southern Europe has seen historic heat records, including 115.9°F (46.6°C) in Portugal and 114.8°F (46°C) in Spain, where multiple heat-related deaths and wildfire fatalities have been reported, including in Catalonia. Authorities across Europe have issued travel advisories and health alerts, urging vulnerable populations to take precautions against heat exhaustion and heatstroke. The Mediterranean Sea’s elevated temperatures and a heat dome over central Europe are driving these extreme conditions, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on the continent. These events underscore the urgent need for adaptation strategies as extreme summer heat becomes the new normal in Europe.