Europe endures record-breaking heatwave, governments scramble to protect vulnerable, lives lost. Germany, Poland, Czechia and Hungary see soaring temperatures, historical highs shattered everywhere.

SMS alerts, cooling centers established by officials, aiming to keep citizens adequately informed.

Western Europe suffers grim consequences, elderly fatalities rapidly rise in France and Spain. Urban life disrupted from Berlin to Budapest, public transit reduced, people urged indoors.

Blazes sweep forests, power outages strike, legacy munitions complicate firefighting in Germany. Hospitals prepare for patient surge, as experts predict rising temperatures in coming days.