- Data collected from national mortality statistics across 27 European countries shows 10,650 excess deaths during the week of June 22-28, when temperatures reached extreme levels across France, Spain, Britain and several other parts of Western Europe.
Europe’s record-breaking heatwave has left behind a devastating human toll, with official data showing more than 10,000 additional deaths recorded across the continent during the final week of June as extreme temperatures pushed vulnerable populations to the brink.
Figures released by Euromomo, a European mortality monitoring network supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization, revealed that the sharp rise in deaths was largely concentrated among elderly people, with more than 9,000 fatalities involving those aged 65 and above.
The alarming figures highlight the deadly consequences of extreme heat, which can trigger fatal heatstroke and worsen existing heart, lung and circulatory conditions. Older adults remain among the groups most at risk due to reduced ability to regulate body temperature and higher rates of chronic illnesses.
The mortality surge was described by experts as highly unusual for this time of year. Lasse Westergaard, a senior physician at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institute, which hosts the Euromomo network, said the scale of the increase was exceptionally high and difficult to attribute to anything other than the extreme weather conditions.
“This is a very high rate of increase in deaths,” experts noted, pointing to the intensity and timing of the heatwave as a major factor behind the sudden rise.
The data, collected from national mortality statistics across 27 European countries, recorded 10,650 excess deaths during the week of June 22-28, when temperatures reached extreme levels across France, Spain, Britain and several other parts of western Europe.
While the figures represent deaths from all causes rather than only officially recorded heat-related fatalities, scientists said there were no other major events, such as a large infectious disease outbreak, that could explain the sudden increase.
Climate experts warned that the severity of the heatwave reflects a growing global challenge, saying such extreme temperatures would have been “practically impossible” without the impact of human-driven climate change.
Rising global temperatures are making heatwaves more frequent, longer and more intense, increasing health risks for millions of people and placing additional pressure on healthcare systems.
The latest figures serve as a stark reminder that extreme heat is no longer simply a weather inconvenience but a growing public health threat capable of causing thousands of deaths within a matter of days.
Governments and health authorities across Europe are now facing increased pressure to strengthen heat emergency plans, improve early warning systems and protect vulnerable communities as climate-related risks continue to rise.
