Europe heatwave deaths have risen sharply after an intense spell of extreme temperatures swept across much of the continent in late June, leaving more than 10,000 excess deaths in its wake. Health experts say the sudden increase makes it one of Europe’s deadliest early summer heatwaves on record and highlights the growing health risks linked to rising global temperatures.
New mortality data show that 10,650 excess deaths were recorded across 27 European countries during the week of 22 to 28 June. The figures come from EuroMOMO, the European mortality monitoring network supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization.
More than 9,000 of those deaths involved people aged 65 and older, confirming that older adults remain the group most vulnerable during prolonged periods of extreme heat.
Researchers noted that deaths had remained below the normal seasonal average for almost two months before suddenly rising as temperatures climbed across Europe. In several countries, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, while others recorded some of the hottest June days ever measured.
Lasse Vestergaard, chief physician at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut, which coordinates EuroMOMO, said the increase was highly unusual for this time of year.
“To have this kind of excess at this time of year is unusual. It’s high,” he told Reuters.
He added that the extreme temperatures were the most likely explanation for the sudden rise in deaths.
Heat is often not listed as the official cause of death, making the true impact of heatwaves difficult to measure.
Instead, prolonged exposure to high temperatures places enormous stress on the body. It increases the risk of heat stroke, dehydration and organ failure while also worsening existing conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illness and kidney problems.
As a result, many death certificates record the underlying medical condition rather than heat itself, meaning official heat-related death figures may underestimate the real toll.
Health experts have long warned that older adults, people with chronic illnesses and those living in poorly ventilated homes face the greatest danger during prolonged heatwaves.
National Figures Show the Widespread Impact
Several countries have released their own estimates, showing that the effects of the heatwave stretched across much of western Europe.
Germany recorded the highest estimated number of heat-related deaths, with the Robert Koch Institute reporting 6,830 deaths through early July.
Other countries also reported significant increases:
- France recorded more than 2,000 additional deaths during the week ending 28 June.
- Belgium reported 1,747 excess deaths during its heatwave.
- England and Wales recorded an estimated 2,700 deaths linked to the May and June heatwaves.
- Spain estimated 937 heat-related deaths during June.
- The Netherlands reported 480 excess deaths.
Together, these figures paint a picture of a heat event that affected millions of people across multiple countries at the same time.
Scientists say the timing of the heatwave made it especially concerning.
Extreme temperatures are more common later in the summer, but this event arrived unusually early, catching many communities before seasonal heat preparedness measures were fully in place.
Mark McCarthy, science manager at the UK Met Office’s climate attribution team, described the conditions as exceptional not only because of their intensity but also because they occurred so early in the year.
Researchers believe the official death toll will continue to rise as more countries submit updated mortality data. EuroMOMO regularly revises its weekly estimates after receiving additional reports from national health agencies.
A separate preliminary study suggests the actual number of people who died because of the heat could be considerably higher.
Christopher Callahan of Indiana University used established heat and mortality models together with weather observations from more than 900 regions across Europe.
His analysis estimated that 13,975 people died from heat-related causes between 15 and 28 June, with Germany, France, Italy and Spain recording the highest national death totals.
Although the study has not yet been peer reviewed, it supports the growing scientific evidence that extreme heat is becoming one of Europe’s most serious public health threats.
The research also found that while populations in warmer regions are generally better adapted to moderate heat, mortality rises rapidly once daily maximum temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius. This suggests that even communities accustomed to hot summers have limits to how much heat they can safely tolerate.
Climate scientists say human-driven climate change played a major role in the intensity of the event.
Researchers from World Weather Attribution concluded that the late June heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” without global warming caused by human activity.
Their analysis found that climate change increased peak daytime temperatures by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius across parts of western Europe during the heatwave.
The consequences extended well beyond public health.
High temperatures disrupted rail services and other transport networks, forced schools to close in several countries and placed additional pressure on electricity systems as demand for air conditioning and cooling surged.
Europe has experienced several deadly heatwaves over the past two decades, but scientists warn that these events are becoming more frequent, more intense and longer lasting.
The continent’s deadliest heatwave remains the summer of 2003, when around 70,000 people are estimated to have died following weeks of extreme temperatures.
Public health agencies say governments will need to strengthen heat warning systems, improve urban planning, expand access to cooling spaces and better protect older adults and vulnerable communities as climate change continues to increase the likelihood of dangerous heat events.
The latest figures serve as another reminder that extreme heat is no longer an isolated weather event. It has become a growing public health challenge that affects healthcare systems, infrastructure and communities across Europe.
