Europe Heatwaves Linked to Thousands of Excess Deaths

Three successive heatwaves that have swept across Europe since late May 2026 have been linked to more than 13,000 excess deaths, according to preliminary data compiled from national health authorities across the continent. The extreme temperatures have shattered records in at least 13 countries, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and triggered devastating wildfires, underscoring the growing threat of climate change to public health.

A Continent Under Fire

The first heatwave began on 24 May, bringing the highest May temperatures ever recorded across much of Europe. A second, more severe heatwave followed on 17 June, and a third began in early July. Temperature records were broken in Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom, according to Wikipedia. The peak temperature of 45.1 °C (113.2 °F) was recorded at Andújar and Montoro, Spain, on 22 and 23 June respectively.

In France, Météo-France declared 23 June the country’s hottest day since measurements began in 1947, with temperatures reaching 44.3 °C (111.7 °F) in Pissos. Nearly half of metropolitan France was placed under red alert. The Czech Republic recorded its hottest day on record on 27 June with 40.9 °C (105.6 °F) in Doksany, only to break that record the following day with 41.9 °C (107.4 °F). For the first time in history, Belarus recorded a temperature above 40 °C (104 °F), reaching 40.4 °C in Pinsk on 29 June.

The Human Toll

Preliminary mortality data paints a grim picture. As of 13 July, at least 13,165 excess deaths have been reported across Europe, with the actual toll expected to rise as full calculations are completed. Germany has recorded approximately 5,120 excess deaths, England and Wales 2,750, France 2,025, Belgium 1,747, Spain 1,028, and the Netherlands approximately 480. Data pooled from 27 European countries recorded 10,000 excess deaths during the week of 22-28 June alone, according to Reuters. A preliminary study from Indiana University and The BMJ predicts approximately 20,390 excess deaths from that single week.

French Health Minister Stephanie Rist reported that deaths rose 29% in the last week of June compared to the week before, with a “clear increase” in deaths among those over 45. The French Health Ministry described the figure of 2,025 excess deaths as likely an “underestimate.” In Belgium, Sciensano reported 1,747 excess deaths between 18 June and 1 July, making it the deadliest Belgian heatwave in 30 years.

Healthcare Systems Under Strain

The extreme heat overwhelmed emergency services across the continent. In France, emergency medical calls rose by up to 50% in some cities. London recorded its highest-ever number of life-threatening emergency calls in a single day. Hospitals faced cooling system failures and sleep-deprived staff as the heat persisted day and night.

Secondary mortality also surged. France reported 72 drowning deaths since 18 June, with Sports Minister Marina Ferrari stating that two-thirds of victims had been swimming in unsupervised areas. Germany recorded 99 drowning deaths in June alone. Nearly 7,000 wildfires broke out in France since the start of summer, burning approximately 8,700 hectares and killing at least 14 people.

Climate Change Connection

Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, warned on 30 June that “the European Region is warming at more than twice the global average. Heatwaves are no longer one-off freak events. They are recurring crises, and they are getting more frequent, stronger and lasting longer. Every summer we fail to prepare for them is a summer we pay for in lives.”

World Weather Attribution, an international scientific collaboration, concluded that the heatwave was “virtually impossible” to explain without accounting for climate change. Their analysis found it was the most severe heatwave ever recorded over the region studied, and that its greater intensity relative to historical heatwaves could not be explained by natural variability alone.

Dr. Kluge also noted on 11 June that over the past four years, heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives across the EU and its associated countries. “The tragedy is 2-fold: first, most of these deaths were entirely preventable; and second, this is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

Adaptation Deficit

Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at more than twice the global average rate. Yet more than half of European Region countries lack comprehensive heat-health action plans, according to the WHO. Many European homes, schools, and businesses were built for an older, cooler climate and lack air conditioning — particularly in northern Europe.

The 2026 heatwaves follow a pattern of increasingly severe events. The 2003 European heatwave killed an estimated 70,000 people, and the 2022 heatwaves caused over 60,000 excess deaths. The current crisis raises urgent questions about whether governments will implement the comprehensive adaptation measures needed to protect vulnerable populations.

What to Watch For

The final death toll will take months to calculate, with estimates ranging from the current 13,000+ to over 20,000 when the preliminary study’s projections are included. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that the heat could shift towards the Balkans in the coming weeks. As the European summer continues, the question remains whether 2026 will become the new normal — or whether accelerated adaptation efforts can reduce future mortality.