A new rapid scientific study has concluded that the record-breaking heatwave sweeping across Europe would have been "virtually impossible" without human-induced climate change.

According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, extreme heat events of this magnitude are now up to 200 times more likely than they were just two decades ago due to global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

Millions of people across Europe have endured temperatures exceeding 40°C, while unusually warm nights have made it difficult for residents to recover from the daytime heat, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Researchers also reported that nearly half of the 850 European cities analyzed have already reached—or are expected to reach—record levels of heat stress during the current heatwave.

Meanwhile, Germany is forecast to experience even higher temperatures in the coming days as the heatwave continues to intensify across parts of the continent.

Scientists warn that unless global greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced, such extreme heat events will become increasingly frequent, intense, and dangerous in the years ahead.