The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Europe’s ongoing record-breaking heatwave has been linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths since June 21, highlighting the growing public health risks posed by extreme temperatures.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described heat stress as a “silent killer,” noting that millions of people across Europe are living, working, and studying in buildings not designed to withstand prolonged extreme heat. He urged governments to strengthen heat-health action plans and improve preparedness as climate change makes severe heatwaves more frequent.
The heatwave has shattered temperature records across several countries, including Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in many areas. France alone has reported around 1,000 excess deaths during the latest spell of extreme heat, while hospitals, emergency services, transport networks, and power infrastructure have come under significant strain.
The WHO reiterated that Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, warming at roughly twice the global average, and warned that climate change is turning what were once rare heatwaves into increasingly common events.