Over 1,300 Deaths Linked to Heatwave in Europe

Europe is in the middle of a dangerous early summer heatwave that health officials say may already be linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths across the continent.

The warning was issued by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who stated in a post on X, “European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures.”

Germany recorded its hottest-ever day for a third consecutive time, with 41.7°C logged in the east of the country. In the Czech Republic, temperatures hit 41.1°C, while Poland reached an all-time high of 40.5°C.

France’s health ministry said roughly 1,000 more people than expected have died since Wednesday alone, with a sharp rise in fatalities among people aged over 65 and a 40% increase in people dying at home. Officials also reported at least 74 drownings since the start of the heatwave, most in rivers and lakes.

Meteorologists say the extreme conditions are being driven by a “heat dome” effect, where trapped high-pressure air sinks, compresses and heats up while preventing cloud formation, allowing temperatures to climb even further.