Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news of Wednesday
After days of record-breaking heatwaves across Europe, relief will start to arrive from the Atlantic on Wednesday, bringing thunderstorms and cooler temperatures to parts of western Europe.
Germany's national weather service is forecasting a peak of 40C on Wednesday in the economic capital Frankfurt, but that will plummet to 27C by Thursday.
High temperatures are also expected to peak in Berlin by Wednesday afternoon at around 39C.
"For the continent as a whole, the month is likely to be ranked among the top 5 warmest Junes on record," said the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
Advertisement
"Due to climate change caused by humans, extreme heat is becoming more frequent and intense. This is something we must learn to live with," said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN agency based in Geneva.
A hooded crow freshens up in a fountain in Berlin on June 26, 2025, as temperatures hist 30 degrees Celsius in the German capital. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
Extreme heat can cause dehydration, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea. The most serious risk is heatstroke, which can lead to death, especially in vulnerable people.
READ ALSO:
The official German advice for how to stay safe in a heatwave
The all-time heat record for Germany was measured on July 25, 2019 and was 41.2C at the DWD weather stations Tönisvorst and Duisburg-Baerl (both in North Rhine-Westphalia).
Number of sick days due to heat on the rise
The number of sick days due to the effects of heat is rising. In 2023, it stood at around 92,700 – or twelve percent more than the previous high in 2018, according to data from the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The figures include days lost due to heatstroke, sunstroke, and heat exhaustion - and fluctuate from year to year depending on the weather conditions. In 2021, for example, there were just under 32,400 days lost due to heat, compared to around 71,200 the following year. Overall, however, the curve has been rising since 2015.
READ ALSO:
Heatwave rules - Who decides when it's too hot for school in Germany?
According to the figures, men are affected by heat in the workplace much more than women. In 2023, men had 63,145 days of absence due to heat. For women, the figure was less than half that, at 29,577. The disparity is partly explained by the fact that men are more likely to work in physically demanding outdoor jobs, such as road or housing construction.
The Green Party parliamentary group is proposing time off work for employees during hot weather. A draft resolution by the party's executive committee states: 'We want employers to be required to take measures to protect the health of their employees when temperatures at the workplace reach 26 degrees Celsius.'
Rail traffic disrupted in northern Germany
Long-distance rail services in northern Germany were disrupted on Tuesday because of multiple embankment fires and a bomb disposal operation near Osnabrück Central Station.
According to Deutsche Bahn, the embankment fires were in the Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt areas and caused delays on routes between Berlin and the Ruhr area/Hanover as well as between Hamburg and Berlin.
Advertisement
Property prices in Germany rise again
Residential property prices in Germany rose again in the first quarter of 2025. From January to March, they increased by an average of 3.8 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Germany's Statistical Office.
This represents the largest increase since the third quarter of 2022 and the second increase in a row.
From the end of 2022 onwards, real estate prices had fallen across the board due to higher interest rates and material costs. The trend didn't reverse until the final quarter of 2024, with an initial increase of 1.9 percent.
German performance by rap group Bob Vylan cancelled
A German music venue said Tuesday that a planned performance by rap duo Bob Vylan would not take place after its frontman led an anti-Israel chant at the Glastonbury festival.
London-based Bob Vylan, who often tackle racism in their tracks, were slammed by international and British politicians after they led the crowds in chants of "Death to the IDF" -- the Israeli military.
Bobby Vylan of British duo Bob Vylan crowd surfing while performing on the West Holts Stage on the fourth day of the Glastonbury festival in south-west England, on June 28, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
The group are due to support the band Gogol Bordello on a European tour this autumn but the venue in Cologne, the Live Music Hall, said in a post on its Instagram account: "The band 'Bob Vylan' will NOT perform as a support act on 13.09.2025!"
An employee at the venue who did not wish to be named told AFP that "we decided together with local organisers that (Bob Vylan) will not perform here after the media uproar", which followed their set at Glastonbury.
On Monday, British police said they were launching a criminal investigation into remarks made by Bob Vylan and fellow rap group Kneecap at the festival in southwestern England.
Advertisement
The BBC, which broadcast the festival, later apologised for not pulling the live stream of the band's set.
With reporting by DPA, AFP and Tom Pugh.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
4 hours ago
- DW
Majority of Germans want stricter rules on teenage drinking – DW – 07/03/2025
Almost two thirds of Germans surveyed support a ban on young teenagers drinking. German health ministers are also in support. In Germany, 14-year-old teenagers are allowed to buy and drink a beer or glass of wine. That's if they're with a legal guardian. However, according to a survey published by Forsa on Thursday, almost two thirds of Germans think this rule should be abolished. In the Forsa survey, commissioned by the German health insurance company Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH), Germans were asked questions on young people and alcohol. In total, 1000 people aged 18-70 from all over Germany were surveyed. The survey found that just over half of Germans also want the legal age of buying beer and wine to rise from 16 to 18. In Germany, the sale of hard alcohol is currently only permitted from the age of 18. Advertising alcohol is a topic that has come up in German politics before, and of those Germans surveyed, 35% would prefer a complete ban. A further third want more restrictions. Across Germany, bars, pubs and restaurants are important for socializing, often with the involvement of alcohol. Though overall alcohol consumption has fallen in recent years, there are reportedly 1.6 million people living in Germany who have an alcohol addiction. In a survey by Germany's Center for Health Education (BZgA) in 2024, excessive drinking among children aged 12-17 also slightly increased. Doctors Associations in Germany have long been calling for health policies to reduce alcohol consumption in Germany. Even in moderation, alcohol is not healthy, according to The German Nutrition Society (DGE). They recommend abstaining completely from alcoholic beverages. Alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular diseases and liver conditions. For teenagers whose bodies are still developing, the risks can be greater. "The earlier young people drink alcohol, the greater the health risks," KKH psychologist Franziska Klemm explained. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The health ministers of Germany's federal states have been pushing for a ban on the supervised drinking rule. Katharina Schenk, the health minister for the east German state of Thuringia said recently at a meeting "Alcohol, as a widely consumed drug, poses a significant problem for children and teenagers" The German Federal Health Minister Nina Warken has voiced support for this initiative.
Local Germany
8 hours ago
- Local Germany
School closures to rail disruptions: How Germany's record-breaking heatwave hit the country
Temperatures soared across Germany this week, reaching nearly 40C in a number of cities like Frankfurt, Leipzig, and Kitzingen. The effects of the heatwave were felt in virtually every aspect of life in the country – offering a glimpse of the pressures that will intensify on Europe's largest economy as extreme temperatures become more common. There is a scientific consensus that human caused global heating is linked to more frequent, more intense and longer lasting heatwaves, with potentially dire consequences for people's health. Health, safety, and daily life For most people, the most immediate effects of the recent heatwave were seen in its effects on daily life. In North Rhine-Westphalia and several other states, schools closed early, with the Ministry of Education issuing emergency directives to end classes by noon. Afternoon activities, including sports and after-school care, were cancelled in many areas. READ ALSO: Heatwave rules - Who decides when it's too hot for school in Germany? 'Many schools in Germany are not prepared for these extreme temperatures. There is a lack of shading, ventilation, and modern climate systems. Teaching at over 30C is unreasonable for children and teachers and can become a health hazard,' said Heinz-Peter Meidinger of the German Teachers' Association. Heatwaves are especially deadly for the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and those working outdoors. Hospitals and care facilities, already strained by staff shortages, struggled to keep vulnerable populations safe. A press release issued by the Marburger Bund doctors' union on Thursday, warned, 'Heat affects the most vulnerable. Older people, the chronically ill, and those in need of care are particularly at risk.' Advertisement In Berlin, officials opened metro stations and churches as cooling shelters for the homeless and vulnerable. Workplaces were also affected. The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) renewed calls for a 'heat break law,' proposing that employees be allowed to reduce hours and take mandatory cooling breaks when temperatures exceed certain thresholds. According to Germany's Ministry of Social Affairs, the number of sick days due to heat in Germany has been rising steadily in recent years, reaching nearly 93,000 in 2023 – a rise of 12 percent in comparison with the previous record in 2018. Beach chairs stand on the Baltic Sea beach in Kühlungsborn. People struggled to find space for towel at beaches and lakes around the country on Wednesday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa / Philip Dulian Fire, water, and infrastructure Wildfires broke out in eastern and northern Germany, with firefighters battling major blazes in the Elbe-Elster district of Brandenburg and near Dresden in Saxony. In Lower Saxony, flames threatened the outskirts of Lüneburg. Advertisement The German Weather Service (DWD) issued its highest warning level for fire danger in several regions, and local authorities banned barbecues and open flames in parks and forests. Germany's energy infrastructure managed to hold up through the heatwave, unlike in Italy where power grids in several cities were unable to handle the increased demand created by air conditioning units. READ ALSO: Why it's hard to find an apartment with air conditioning in Germany Operators in Germany remained on high alert, however, as high temperatures are known to reduce the efficiency of coal and gas-fired plants. Solar panels can also see diminished output when overheated. Rail traffic was disrupted in northern Germany due to embankment fires. Deutsche Bahn reported delays on routes between Berlin and the Ruhr area/Hanover, and between Hamburg and Berlin. Forty-eight passengers had to be rescued by emergency services from a train in the town of Elsfleth in northern Germany when a technical fault caused the train to stop and also disrupted the air conditioning, causing the temperature to become dangerously high. Deutsche Bahn also announced that many of their bus lines were also affected, as a result of insufficient air conditioning and other risks to equipment caused by the extreme heat. In some places, asphalt on motorways actually buckled under the heat. A section of the A5 motorway, for example needed to be repaired on Thursday after being torn between Zwingenberg and Bensheim in the direction of Heidelberg. In Berlin, the amount of drinking water which needed to be fed into the network skyrocketed, according to the city's municipal water service ( Berliner Wasserbetriebe ). On an average day, Berlin consumes about 600,000 cubic metres of water. On Wednesday the city consumed 880,000 cubic metres, and 820,000 cubic metres were used on Tuesday. Long-term impacts The end of the heatwave brought immediate relief as of Thursday morning, but while the temperature has fallen impacts may be felt for a long time to come. According to Allianz Research, the July heatwave will cause Germany to lose 0.1 percent of GDP growth in 2025, with Europe as a whole losing up to 0.5 percent. These losses are attributed to reduced productivity, health impacts, and disruptions across sectors, including agriculture and industry. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has estimated that weather- and climate-related extreme events cost Europe over €45 billion in 2023 alone, with heatwaves, floods, storms, and droughts inflicting the greatest damage. Heatwaves have far-reaching consequences: Plants and grasses on the central reservation of Frankfurter Allee are dying from high temperatures and lack of watering. Photo: picture alliance/dpa / Jens Kalaene Germany, Italy, France, and Spain saw the highest monetary losses among European countries, according to the EEA, with only a small proportion of the damage insured. Heatwaves are also killers. A recent report by Guardian found that hot weather kills an estimated half a million people each year - more 'than the average death toll from wars or terrorism, but smaller than that from cars or air pollution.' Advertisement A muted reaction Given the severity of the heatwave, the political and public response in Germany has been strangely muted. 'It's surprising how indifferent the black-red coalition seems to be to ecological issues,' wrote political commentator and Spiegel journalist Jonas Schaible. There is no perceptible awareness of the crisis, no action plan, not even lip service, he added. Since coming to power, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have prioritized economic relief for industry and agriculture over climate action, while proposals for a national heat action plan or stricter environmental regulations have stalled. The coalition's legislative program has also been criticised for supporting a number of anti-environmental measures, including subsidising gas, refusing to introduce a speed limit on Autobahns , and allowing international carbon credits to count toward Germany's emissions targets. According to a recent Forsa survey, only 7 percent of Germans now consider climate change one of the country's top three issues – a sharp decline in comparison to previous years.
Int'l Business Times
11 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Hundreds Evacuated As Greece Wildfire Rages On Crete
A wildfire fanned by gale-force winds on the southern Greek island of Crete has forced the evacuation of locals and tourists, officials said on Thursday. Greece is sweltering in a heatwave that is searing much of southern Europe. The country has become particularly vulnerable in recent years to summer wildfires, which are fuelled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. Local media said around 1,500 people had to be evacuated because of the blaze, which broke out on Wednesday evening. "Evacuations took place in numerous hotels and tourists were safely transferred to a closed gymnasium in the municipality of Ierapetra," vice-prefect Yannis Androulakis told TV channel Mega, referring to the holiday town in the southeast. He said the authorities acted because water bomber planes could not reach the affected areas overnight. "At the moment, there are three active fronts," Androulakis said. "Because of the strong winds, the fire has progressed quite rapidly." Around 270 firefighters, 10 helicopters and drones have been deployed to tackle the blaze, said Vassilios Vathrakoyannis, a spokesman for the fire service. They include reinforcements sent in from the capital, Athens. "There are still a number of different fronts. The fire is burning scrubland and crops," he said. "The winds are very strong -- up to nine on the Beaufort scale." Crete, Greece's largest island, has an arid, uneven landscape criss-crossed by gullies, making it difficult for firefighters to tackle the blaze. The fire has damaged both houses and crops in fruit and vegetable greenhouses, local media said. Like the rest of Crete, Ierapetra -- a seaside resort with a population of 23,000 -- takes in thousands of tourists in the summer. Vathrakoyannis said the authorities would assess the extent of the damage once the fire had been brought under control. He stressed the risk of fires was "considerable" in July, the hottest month of the year in Greece. Until now, Greece had been more or less spared the heatwave that has gripped other parts of southern Europe. The country recorded its hottest ever summer last year when 45,000 hectares were torched, according to WWF Greece and the Athens National Observatory. In terms of surface area destroyed, 2023 was the worst on record. Nearly 175,000 hectares were obliterated and 20 people died during a series of prolonged heatwaves when temperatures rose in places to 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit). Helicopters dropped water on a wildfire in Ierapetra AFP Greece recorded its hottest ever summer last year when 45,000 hectares were torched AFP
