Europe heatwave linked to 1,300 excess deaths, WHO says

GENEVA: The World Health Organization says more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded in Europe since June 21 as a prolonged heatwave exposed tens of millions of people across the continent to extreme temperatures.

The deaths were logged during a period in which large parts of Europe experienced unusually intense heat. France accounted for more than 1,000 of those deaths alone, based on preliminary figures released by French health authorities on Sunday covering the period since June 24. Officials said the overall toll could rise because the data had not yet been fully consolidated.

French authorities said the worst-affected areas were those placed under the highest red heat alert, where temperatures remained above 40C for extended periods. Public Health France said around 85% of the excess deaths involved people aged 65 and above. Health officials also reported the sharpest increase in deaths at home, particularly in the Ile-de-France region around Paris, underscoring the risks faced by elderly and isolated residents during periods of extreme heat.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the impact of the weather emergency went beyond mortality figures.

"Heat stress is often called the 'silent killer' – and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures"

In a post on X, he also said millions of people across the continent were currently living under extreme heat and that deaths, school closures and strain on power systems had accompanied the high temperatures.

Records broken across Europe

The heatwave began to ease in France on Sunday after several days of exceptionally high temperatures, bringing some respite after what was described as one of the most severe early summer heat episodes in recent years. Elsewhere, however, several countries continued to endure sweltering conditions over the weekend.

Germany and Italy both saw temperatures exceed 40C. In Denmark, the national meteorological institute said Saturday was the hottest day recorded in the country since measurements began in 1874.

"With 36.6C north of Odense, we have the warmest day ever since measurements began in 1874"

Slovakia said Friday night was the warmest on record there, with temperatures not falling below 26.3C. In Germany, a spokesperson for the national meteorological service said a preliminary reading of 41.3C was recorded near Saarbrucken, close to the French border, on Friday.

Health and safety pressures continue

In France, the prime minister's office said that although the heatwave was moving on, pressure on the healthcare system would continue and hospital admissions would remain elevated for several more days. Officials also said wildfire reports in France were higher than during the same period last year.

In the United Kingdom, four people — a teenager, two men and a woman — died on Saturday after getting into difficulty while swimming in open water. Along with one death on Friday and another on Wednesday of the previous week, that brought the number of drownings during the recent heatwave to six.

Temperatures during the heatwave rose as much as 18C above the seasonal average. The conditions were driven by an omega block, a weather pattern in which hot air becomes trapped over a region for an extended period while cooler air remains on either side.