At least 35,000 people died in Europe amid record heatwaves

At least 35,000 people have died during four consecutive record heatwaves that struck Europe this summer, according to incomplete counts coming from just over half of the continent’s countries.

Heat-related toll concentrated in a few countries but will grow

More than 25,000 of the deaths linked to extreme temperatures were recorded in Germany, France and Spain alone. Experts warn the final total is likely to be substantially higher once August data are processed.

Germany has recorded the largest burden so far: an estimated 14,000 people died as a result of heat between 6 April and 9 August. The Robert Koch Institute reported that in the single week from 22 to 28 June there were about 9,600 more deaths than expected — making this the worst year for heat-related mortality in Germany on record. The previous peak was an estimated 8,900 deaths in 2018; during ordinary summers heat-related deaths often number fewer than 2,000.

Spain has already broken its own record. From May to this week the heat has been linked to 4,947 deaths, the Carlos III Institute said — overtaking the previous national high of 4,520 deaths registered in 2022. France was also severely affected: more than 500 meteorological stations reported temperatures above 40°C and at one point 98 percent of the country was under a heat warning. French health authorities say there were 7,300 excess deaths between the end of May and 22 July, based on preliminary electronic death certificates that cover roughly 80 percent of total deaths.

Other countries also saw sharp increases. Health authorities in England estimate the May–June heatwaves were associated with 2,877 deaths. Belgium registered 1,222 excess deaths between 18 and 29 June (a 39 percent rise); at least 900 more people than usual died in the Netherlands between 22 June and 5 July. Models suggest about 1,070 excess deaths in Poland during the late-June heatwave, Swiss authorities estimated around 220 extra deaths in the same week, and initial figures from Luxembourg, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Denmark indicate roughly 40 additional deaths in each country. Italy has not yet published a final national toll, but estimates place heat-related deaths there between 5,000 and 8,000 once analyses are complete.

Scientists warn these extreme heat events are not isolated. Research shows human-caused warming is making extreme temperatures more frequent and intense. The World Health Organization said in May that heat-related deaths in the European region have risen by more than 30 percent over the past 20 years, and ageing populations increase the number of people vulnerable to heat — often because high temperatures exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory conditions and contribute to fatal complications such as heart attacks, strokes or kidney failure.

Photo: EPA-EFE/NARONG SANGNAK