BERLIN (Reuters) – Germans braced for sweltering conditions on Saturday as a heatwave linked to dozens of deaths in Western Europe was expected to move east after temperatures broke records above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit)._x000D_
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Britain, France, Switzerland and Germany have all experienced record heat in June, and the weather system could test more records as it rolls across Germany towards Poland._x000D_
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On Friday, a new German record of 41.3 C was reached near the city of Saarbruecken close to the French border, a spokesperson for Germany’s National Meteorological Service said, noting the reading was still preliminary._x000D_
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PEOPLE URGED TO SAVE WATER_x000D_
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The service issued extreme heat warnings for nearly all of Germany on Saturday as authorities urged people to save water._x000D_
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In France, dozens of people, both young and old, have died during the heatwave. Temperatures above â 40 C have disrupted rail travel and power generation, sparked alcohol bans, suspended schools and postponed outdoor events._x000D_
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“The heatwave is going to peak at the weekend, well over 40 degrees in some parts of Germany,” said Karsten Brandt, a meteorologist at weather forecasting site Donnerwetter.de._x000D_
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The Ironman European Championship long-distance triathlon taking place on Sunday in Frankfurt shortened the cycling and running courses due to the heat, organisers said._x000D_
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Struggling with the prospect of damage to infrastructure including buckling roads and swelling train tracks, some major public service providers have sought to reduce traffic._x000D_
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FREE CANCELLATIONS TO REDUCE RAIL TRAVEL_x000D_
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German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn has given customers the option of cancelling long-distance travel bookings into early next week without charge due to the heatwave._x000D_
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The firm said its infrastructure is under particular strain because of sun exposure and additional risk to signals, tracks and overhead wires stemming from thunderstorms and wildfires._x000D_
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Another operator, National Express, said it would suspend trains â on its Rhine-Ruhr-Express line on Saturday afternoon in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, as a preventative measure in case services came to an unplanned halt._x000D_
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Andre Berghegger, chief executive of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, urged the public to use water sparingly due to the heatwave._x000D_
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Most of the housing stock in Northern Europe is not built to lower heat but rather to keep it in._x000D_
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The present heatwave â will begin shifting by the end of the month, hitting Central Europe and the Balkans, the World Meteorological Organization said._x000D_
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Scientists said the heatwave would have been virtually impossible without man-made climate change, which has made this week’s nig
