Hitzechaos in Germany: Forest fires and thunderstorms threaten East!

Hitzechaos in Germany: Forest fires and thunderstorms threaten East!

The heat wave that Germany has forced to kneel in the past few weeks has reached its preliminary climax on Wednesday. With temperatures of up to 39.3 degrees in Andernach, Rhineland-Palatinate, this was the hottest day of the year, as the German Weather Service (DWD) confirmed. Other cities such as Tangerhütte-Demker and Kitzingen also experienced maximum values ​​of 39.2 and 39.1 degrees. But the longed -for cooling is not long in coming, because violent thunderstorms announce a temporary end of this tropical heat.

On Wednesday afternoon, huge thunderstorms moved over North Rhine-Westphalia, especially the Lower Rhine and the western Münsterland. These brought storms, heavy rain and subsequently some inconveniences. Restrained trees blocked streets and railway tracks, and basement also ran full of regions. The fire brigades fight in several fronts against the forest fires that spread dramatically in Saxony, Brandenburg and Thuringia. In the Gohrischheide, Heidehäuser, a dormitory for severely disabled people, was cleared. Almost 100 people had to be brought to safety because the flames have spread to an area of ​​around 600 hectares.

The risk of forest fire and its dimensions

Brandenburg's forest fire protection officer spoke of an escalated situation, while the fire brigade is still tireless. In Thuringia, too, after a forest fire in the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, disaster alarm was triggered, where about 250 hectares are affected. Over 200 emergency services and a police helicopter support the extinguishing work. It turns out that climate change is not just a keyword - it has a direct impact on the safety and health of many people.

climate change as a driving force

climate change is an existential threat, and given the ongoing heat waves, this summer could go into the history books. More and more people are affected by extreme weather events, with older people, children and people limited in particular. Studies show that heat waves according to the EEA now responsible for about 90 % of the climate-related deaths in Europe are.

In order to oppose these threats, comprehensive adaptation and climate protection measures are essential. The EU has already started to issue legal requirements that should enable the Member States to take the necessary steps to adapt to the climatic changes.

The current situation is more than just a weather phenomenon - it is part of a larger, networked problem that also affects us in Cologne. It is to be hoped that the upcoming thunderstorms will not only cool down, but can also at least partially remedy the damage caused. Let's see what summer will bring!