Heat wave and forest fires: Thuringia under disaster alert!

Heat wave and forest fires: Thuringia under disaster alert!

It is July 3, 2025 and summer is showing its oppressive heat in Germany. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), today is the hottest day of the year. Concrete temperature values ​​will not be announced until the evening, but a worrying situation is already emerging. Severe thunderstorms are on the way and indicate an impending cooling that is expected to occur from Thursday. The heat wave is not only affecting Germany, but also many European countries, including Spain and Austria, where heat records are also being set.

As can be seen from rnd.de, the meteorologists in the south of Germany expect isolated storms in the afternoon Thunderstorms, while severe thunderstorms could develop in the northwest and northern Europe from late afternoon. Heavy rain and the associated potential damage are particularly dangerous.

Forest fires and disaster alerts

As temperatures rise relentlessly, extreme drought is causing devastating forest fires in several places. Eastern Germany is particularly affected, where there have been numerous fires in the Saalfelder Höhe region. Around 250 hectares of burning areas have already been reported here. faz.net reports that the disaster alarm was triggered at 5:30 p.m. and 100 additional emergency services were requested to combat the situation. In Heidehäuser, a town on the border of Saxony and Brandenburg, a residential home for severely disabled people had to be evacuated, affecting around 100 people, including 45 residents.

The fire areas continue to expand, and another forest fire on a former military training area near Jüterbog threatens 40 hectares. There are also disruptions to long-distance traffic in Thuringia: the railway line between Erfurt and Gotha was closed, leading to delays and cancellations for ICE trains.

Health risks from the heat

The heat also poses health risks, especially for older people and children who exert themselves in these temperatures. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the Increasing temperatures due to climate change are deteriorating the health of many people. Cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases are more common, and it is not uncommon for serious side effects from medications to be observed. Studies show that deaths increase significantly during heat waves.

Meanwhile, it is becoming clear that the heat not only causes problems for health, but also for the infrastructure. On the Autobahn 5 in the direction of Heidelberg, road damage and a closure had to be noted due to the high temperatures. In Frankfurt, the air quality suffers from high ozone levels, which can cause health problems.

In today's hot period, special empathy is required - in urban planning, but also in everyday dealings in order to protect yourself and others from the consequences of the extreme heat. A rethink is urgently needed in order to be able to meet the challenges of climate change and more frequent extreme weather events.