Heat stroke cases quadruple in France as heat stroke rises fourfold in European countries; Trains, nuclear plants shut down in many countries

Europe is currently in the grip of extreme heat. Its impact is no longer limited to the health of the people but is clearly visible on the economy and infrastructure as well. Western Europe's rail network is in disarray. Many nuclear reactors in France have been shut down or their capacity has been reduced, as they are releasing extremely hot water into rivers. Union leaders at an automobile plant in France have announced a strike due to unbearable heat on the factory floor. Power outages in France and Italy have affected power supply in hundreds of areas. Experts believe that if this heat wave continues, the economies of many European countries could be affected and mortality could also rise. The situation is worse in cities. Old buildings with thick walls absorb heat throughout the day and stay warm till night, making apartments like furnaces. People bothered by the heat are roaming in the park after midnight. Many people are also staying in hotels for relief. "Everybody is asking why we weren't prepared for this," says François James, an expert on the political environment in Paris. Most of the buildings and infrastructure of the world's fastest-heating continent were built with cold weather in mind. Heat absorbent building materials have been used in the old buildings. It also lacks arrangements like exterior shutters, which is adding to the problems of the heat staying inside the buildings. According to France's Health Minister Stéphane Rist, the number of cardiac arrest cases has quadrupled. Earlier there used to be 5 to 10 cases, now 20 to 30 cases are coming. According to a 2023 study, the risk of death from heat is higher in France, Spain and Italy. According to a report by German insurance company Alliance, Italy, France, Germany and Spain were the worst hit by the heat. The temperature has risen so much that the reactors of four nuclear power plants in France have also had to be shut down. Trains in Germany, Switzerland and Britain have been cancelled due to the heat. In some other countries, the train's onboard system cannot tolerate the heat. France released a 388-page plan last year with 52 solutions. A plan has been introduced in London this week to protect against the heat.