PARIS — A record-shattering heatwave has triggered a surge in deaths across Europe, with the World Health Organization reporting more than 1,300 excess fatalities linked to high temperatures since June 21.
French public health authorities said the country recorded around 1,000 additional deaths during the peak of the extreme heat, a figure expected to rise as data from residential care facilities and private homes is processed. Most victims were elderly, officials said.
Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in parts of France, Germany, Spain and elsewhere, breaking June records across the region. Germany hit a high of 41.7C, while authorities in several countries issued extreme heat warnings and reported spikes in heat-related emergencies.
Spain has registered 327 heat-related deaths since June 21, according to national monitoring systems, while smaller numbers were reported in the United Kingdom, Poland and Romania.
The heatwave has strained health services, with hospitals in several countries treating increased cases of heatstroke and exacerbations of chronic conditions. Emergency services responded to thousands of additional calls, and power supplies faced pressure from high demand for cooling.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the excess deaths were linked to the high temperatures and warned of the vulnerability of populations to extreme heat.
Forecasters expect some relief in western Europe this week as cooler air moves in, though the heat is forecast to persist or shift eastward in coming days. Health authorities continue to urge precautions, particularly for the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.
The death toll is preliminary and likely to increase as full data emerges, officials said. The situation remains under close monitoring by national and European agencies.
