In late June 2026, a severe heatwave affected western Europe. A weather pattern called a "heat dome" trapped hot air, causing temperatures to rise significantly. This led to power outages and school closures. France, Spain, and the United Kingdom all recorded new high temperatures.
More importantly, over 10,000 more people died across 27 European nations than usual during that week. This information comes from EuroMOMO, a group that tracks deaths and is supported by the World Health Organization. Researchers found no other reason, like a COVID-19 outbreak, to explain the sudden increase in deaths.
Lasse Vestergaard, a doctor involved with the tracking system, stated that such a high number of deaths at this time of year is unusual and likely caused by the extreme heat. The oldest people were most affected, with over 9,000 deaths among those aged 65 and older. Extreme heat can cause heat stroke and worsen existing heart and lung problems. Older adults are more vulnerable because their bodies have trouble controlling temperature, and they often have chronic health issues.
France and Belgium experienced very high death rates. In Germany, about 5,120 deaths were linked to the heat in 2026, mostly during the June heatwave. Sadly, 99 people drowned in Germany in June, the highest number in over 20 years, with most victims being men.
Scientists agree that climate change made this heatwave much worse. Without human influence, a heatwave this severe in June would have been almost impossible. Global warming is making heatwaves more frequent and intense. Studies show that climate change directly caused 42 percent of heat-related deaths in England and Wales during May and June, raising temperatures by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius. The full impact of the heatwave is still being calculated, but the thousands of lives lost serve as a serious warning.