GENEVA, June 28, 2026 - More than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded across Europe since June 21 as an unprecedented heatwave continues to grip the continent, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to warn of growing health risks linked to climate change. Report BSS/AFP
Millions of people across Europe endured another weekend of extreme temperatures, with several countries reporting rising fatalities and mounting pressure on healthcare services.
In France alone, health authorities reported around 1,000 excess deaths since Wednesday, underscoring the severity of the ongoing heat crisis.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said over 1,300 excess deaths had been linked to the heatwave since June 21.
“Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ — and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures,” Tedros wrote on X.
According to forecasts, at least 191 million people were expected to experience temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher on Sunday, with Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland among the hardest-hit countries.
Overall, about 381 million people across Europe, excluding Turkey, were forecast to face temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, based on weather projections and population estimates.
Tedros warned that millions of Europeans are living under extreme heat, with hundreds of deaths reported, schools closed and electricity grids under severe strain.
He attributed the increasing frequency and intensity of such events to climate change, noting that Europe is warming at twice the global average.
“Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the ‘once-in-a-generation’ heatwave is now occurring nearly every year,” he said.
The WHO chief said the UN health agency is working closely with member states and partners to strengthen preparedness, prevention and health system responses to extreme heat. He also urged European governments to implement comprehensive heat-health action plans to better protect vulnerable populations.
