40 Degree Temperature Record in Berlin: Weekend Heatwave Disaster

Germany's capital, Berlin, was shaken by a temperature record unseen since meteorological measurements began. According to preliminary data announced by the German Weather Service (DWD), thermometers reached 39,9 degrees Celsius in the Berlin-Tempelhof area on Saturday. This extraordinary situation meant a major stress and resilience test for both authorities and citizens across the city. Instead of creating short-lived joy, the temperature record turned into a heavy burden that strained the city's infrastructure and emergency teams. In the following days, a new record was recorded for the whole country with a value of 41,7 degrees measured in the Neißemünde area of the Brandenburg state.

This extreme heatwave virtually mobilized rescue and emergency service teams in the city. On Saturday alone, the Berlin Fire Department had to carry out more than two thousand operations due to complaints of dizziness and severe circulatory problems. Unfortunately, at least two people lost their lives in tragic drowning incidents in open bodies of water. A 42-year-old man at Jungfernheideteich in Charlottenburg and a 51-year-old man in the Tempelhofer Hafen area could not be saved despite all interventions made after being pulled from the water. These deaths painfully revealed how dangerous extreme temperatures can be in aquatic environments.

Berliners flocked to many open-air pools and swimming facilities in the city to cool down, but this situation also brought unexpected problems. As the crowds reached uncontrollable levels, ticket sales for summer pools were completely halted on both days. While many citizens were not allowed into the facilities due to massive queues at the pool entrances, the Berlin police had to patrol with water-throwing vehicles to cool down those left on the streets. At symbolic spots like the Brandenburg Gate, people were sprayed with water from these vehicles to try to provide at least some relief.

Streets and popular outdoor areas resembled a ghost town due to the extreme heat. Areas normally preferred by thousands of people during the summer months, such as Tempelhofer Feld and Gleisdreieck Park, were completely empty, especially on Saturday. Despite these challenging weather conditions, Bruno Mars concerts and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's performance at the Waldbühne were not canceled; however, the philharmonic orchestra had to shorten its stage time due to the approaching storm. While approximately three thousand people attended the protests organized by some trade unions against social state reforms, the Fridays For Future movement also organized a last-minute demonstration with the theme of the heatwave and the climate crisis.

The transportation sector was also severely affected by this unprecedented heatwave. German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) warned the public to avoid non-essential regional and long-distance train travel throughout the weekend. A Czech train traveling between Hamburg and Prag, which was stranded in a rural area in the Karstädt town of Brandenburg, completely lost its air conditioning system due to a power outage. The passengers on the train, who were trapped in the vehicle for hours with over six hundred passengers, were ultimately evacuated to a temporary emergency shelter set up in a sports hall. Despite all these adversities, Berlin Public Transport Operators (BVG) managed to prevent a major crisis in urban transportation by quickly replacing a few trams and buses with broken air conditioning systems with spare vehicles.