Berlin sizzles: residents cope with 40°C heat without air conditioning

A powerful heatwave has swept across Germany, leaving many Berlin residents struggling to cope with intense indoor heat. When the thermometer hits 40 degrees and homes have no air conditioning, the city turns into an oven. Berlin, like most European capitals, was built for a temperate climate — with thick walls that retain warmth in winter. But in summer, those same walls work against residents, turning flats into thermoses. While some seek shade in parks, others invent ways to survive in their own bedrooms.

Over the weekend, Berlin recorded its hottest weather of the summer, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat has significantly affected daily life — from public transport and street shops to private homes. According to Germany's weather service, the heatwave was caused by a persistent high pressure system over Central and Western Europe.

Hot air masses from North Africa were drawn into the region and remained under the high pressure zone for several days. Clear skies and strong sunshine further intensified surface heating. As a result, temperatures in many parts of Germany in June far exceeded the typical seasonal range of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius.

Since most ordinary residential buildings in Germany lack air conditioning, residents have to cope with indoor heat using limited resources. One resident said: "I can only lower the blinds to prevent direct sunlight, close doors and windows, and turn on a fan." Another resident said: "I basically don't stay at home.

I look for cool places. During the day I close the windows and draw the curtains. I hope it won't get too hot in my house." A third resident added: "I only have a fan. During the day I close the windows, and at night I open them. I also draw the curtains during the day so the sun doesn't shine directly in. That's it — there's really no other solution."

Beyond Germany, record heat has intensified across much of Europe, leading to deaths, power outages, closure or reduced hours of tourist attractions, and overburdened health systems, as scientists warn that the continent is entering a new era of extreme summers driven by climate change.

Berlin's heat is not just a weather anomaly. It exposes a systemic problem: European cities are unprepared for the climate realities of the 21st century. Buildings designed to retain heat become traps, and infrastructure built for moderate temperatures fails. Schools close, trains are cancelled, hospitals are overwhelmed. And while politicians discuss long term strategies, Berlin residents find ways to cool their flats with makeshift measures every day. This is not just a matter of comfort — it is a matter of health and survival in a world where "summer" has ceased to be a time of holidays and become a time of trials.

As reported by CCTV+, forecasters do not expect temperatures to drop soon, and authorities are urging residents to take precautions.