The asphalt on a German highway melted and damaged vehicles traveling on the A-2, the route that connects the Ruhr region with Berlin. It was not an isolated case. It was only a sign of what the extreme heat did to infrastructure across half the continent.
In Belgium, rail operator SNCB canceled more than 100 trains each day throughout the week and permanently withdrew 200 of its 3,800 units for not having air conditioning. In France, nearly 10% of Paris commuter trains were taken out of service. And in Leizpig, Germany, the tram has not been running for more than 48 hours. The sealant on its tracks melted and ended up mixed with the concrete of the street.
The World Meteorological Organization already warned about it. Europe is the continent where temperatures are rising fastest. And this was only the first heat wave of 2026.
