Europe experienced a staggering rise of more than 10,000 excess deaths last month, largely attributed to a severe heatwave sweeping across the continent, RT reported Sunday based on official mortality statistics.
Parts of Germany, France, and Spain endured temperatures soaring above 40°C, marking the hottest June ever recorded in Western Europe. Germany reached a new peak temperature of 41.7°C after shattering records for three days in a row, while France recorded its highest temperature on record at 43.8°C.
This prolonged heat spell triggered widespread wildfires, caused significant disruptions to transport and infrastructure, and led to a surge in heat-related illnesses and drownings across the region. Data from EuroMOMO, a European mortality monitoring network supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed that over 9,000 of these excess deaths involved individuals aged 65 and above.
"Such a level of excess mortality at this time of year is highly unusual and concerning," said Lasse Vestergaard, chief physician at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut, the host of EuroMOMO, in an interview with RT. He emphasized that the extreme heat was the most plausible explanation for this unprecedented mortality spike.
The EuroMOMO figures cover the week of June 22-28, coinciding with the heatwave's peak across much of Western Europe. Researchers confirmed there were no other significant factors, including Covid-19 outbreaks, that could account for the sharp increase in deaths, which totaled approximately 10,650.
Extreme heat has now become the deadliest weather-related hazard in Europe. Because many heat-related deaths are not directly recorded as such, experts rely on excess mortality estimates to gauge the true impact of heatwaves.
Separately, England and Wales reported around 2,700 excess deaths during May and June, according to estimates from Imperial College London, the Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, as cited by Sky News. France, Belgium, and the Netherlands collectively accounted for 3,700 excess deaths last month, according to RT.
Heat-related fatalities often result from heat stroke or worsening cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, with older adults being particularly vulnerable. WHO Europe’s regional director, Henri Kluge, warned last week that European nations should brace for "more deadly weeks" as another heatwave began forming over the Atlantic.
Why this matters
The unprecedented heatwave highlights the growing threat of climate change-induced extreme weather in Europe. With vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, facing increased health risks, these events underscore the urgent need for improved preparedness and adaptive measures to mitigate future heat-related mortality.
As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, accurate monitoring of excess deaths is critical to understanding their true human cost and informing public health responses.
