European countries recorded more than 10,000 excess deaths during the record-breaking heatwave that swept across western Europe in late June, highlighting the severe impact of extreme temperatures. Official data showed that more than 9,000 of those deaths involved people aged 65 and above, making older adults the most affected group during the deadly weather event.
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Health experts said extreme heat can directly cause heatstroke while also worsening heart and respiratory diseases, particularly among elderly people and those with existing medical conditions. Specialists described the unusually high number of excess deaths for this time of year as a strong indication that the intense heatwave played a major role in the sharp rise in mortality across the region.
The figures covered deaths from all causes between June 22 and June 28, when temperatures reached their highest levels in countries including France, Spain and the United Kingdom. Researchers noted that no other major public health event, such as a widespread disease outbreak, could explain the sudden increase to 10,650 excess deaths during that single week.
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Meanwhile, the heatwave disrupted daily life by damaging power supplies, forcing school closures and breaking temperature records in several European countries. France and Belgium recorded the highest levels of excess mortality, while Belgium experienced its deadliest heatwave since national records began in 2000, reflecting the growing health risks linked to prolonged extreme temperatures.
Scientists also concluded that human-driven climate change significantly increased the intensity of the late-June heatwave, making such conditions far more likely. A separate study estimated that around 2,700 people died from heat-related causes in England and Wales during the May and June heatwaves, with researchers attributing nearly 42 percent of those deaths to the effects of global warming.