The World Health Organization (WHO) says more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded across Europe since June 21 as a result of the ongoing record-breaking heatwave sweeping the continent.
Millions of people continued to endure extreme temperatures over the weekend as the heatwave spread eastward, prompting health warnings, straining public services and contributing to a rising death toll in several countries.
On Sunday, French health authorities reported approximately 1,000 more deaths than expected since Wednesday, highlighting the growing impact of the intense heat.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that more than 1,300 excess deaths linked to high temperatures had been recorded across Europe since June 21.
“Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ because European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures,” Tedros said.
According to AFP estimates, at least 191 million people were expected to experience temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher on Sunday, with particularly severe conditions forecast in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
Analysis based on forecasts from the German Meteorological Service and 2025 population projections compiled by Austrian NGO Klimadashboard showed that about 381 million people across Europe, excluding Turkey, were expected to face temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.
Tedros warned that millions of Europeans are currently living under extreme heat, with hundreds of deaths reported, schools closed and electricity grids coming under increasing pressure.
He attributed the worsening frequency of such extreme weather events to climate change, noting that heatwaves once considered rare are now occurring almost every year.
“Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average,” he said.
The WHO chief added that the agency is working with member states and partners to strengthen preparedness, improve prevention measures and bolster health systems to better respond to the health risks posed by extreme heat.
