Europe's record-breaking heatwave is pushing hospitals to their limits as soaring temperatures spread eastward, forcing governments to issue fresh warnings, cancel public events and take emergency measures to protect people from the prolonged spell of extreme heat.

In France and the United Kingdom, health authorities witnessed an increase in the number of calls as well as admissions to hospitals due to health problems caused by the heat. According to reports from Paris, the hospitals were near capacity after seeing the continued increase in the number of patients. In France, there was a fourfold increase in visits to emergency rooms due to heat and an increased incidence of heart attack cases.

There has been a heat wave affecting 100 million people across Europe with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees centigrade, and which has persisted for days on end. Scientists predict that hundreds of deaths could have been caused by the heat wave, with most deaths resulting from people who went into the water bodies to cool off.

Although western regions of Europe are likely to witness a mild cooling trend, the eastern and central regions are at a higher risk. Temperatures in Germany are estimated to be around 40 degrees Celsius throughout the weekend, which has led to the cancellation of public activities. Railways have issued a warning about the possible damage caused by the extreme weather to railways, while some roads have buckled in parts of the country because of the heat wave.

Life in Europe has been highly affected by the hot weather. The authorities in Paris banned drinking alcohol at night to minimize the health risks. Several countries have canceled school programs and public events, while the emergency services in London have recorded the highest number of calls due to a heat wave in a week.

Researchers said the intensity of the heatwave bears the clear influence of human-caused climate change. A study released on Friday concluded that temperatures of this scale would have been virtually impossible in June several decades ago. Europe has warmed faster than the global average, increasing both the frequency and severity of heatwaves and placing growing pressure on health systems and infrastructure.

The latest heatwave has renewed concerns about Europe's preparedness for extreme weather, particularly in countries where homes, hospitals and public infrastructure were built for milder climates rather than prolonged periods of dangerous heat.