Europe heatwaves cause over 30,000 excess deaths

heatwave excess mortality climate change extreme heat public health

Extreme heatwaves across Europe have resulted in a significant surge in excess mortality, with provisional data from the EuroMomo monitoring platform estimating over 32,000 excess deaths between mid-July and mid-August.

In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute reported approximately 14,000 heat-related deaths between April 6 and August 9, 2026, a record that surpasses the previous high of 8,900 in 2018. A significant portion of these fatalities, roughly 9,600, occurred during a single intense week from June 22 to June 28. The majority of victims were individuals aged 75 and older.

Spain also recorded high mortality rates, with nearly 4,500 deaths linked to heat between June 1 and August 19. In France, health authorities reported more than 7,300 additional deaths during the same period. NASA satellite data further corroborates the severity of the heatwaves, noting that temperatures in several regions exceeded 40°C and suggesting the heat may be linked to approximately 10,000 additional deaths across the UK, France, Germany, and Belgium.

Experts attribute these extreme weather patterns to climate change, warning that such heatwaves are likely to become more frequent and intense.

Entities

Copernicus · EuroMOMO · Europe · France · Germany · Instituto de Salud Carlos III · NASA · Robert Koch Institute · Spain

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] EuroMomo estimates more than 32,000 excess deaths in Europe between mid-July and mid-August. www.diarioviseu.pt · www.thelocal.at · www.thelocal.no · www.pesterlloyd.net · havadis.at · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The first week of July recorded approximately 8,000 excess deaths. www.diarioviseu.pt · www.thelocal.at · www.thelocal.no · www.pesterlloyd.net · havadis.at · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The last week of June was the deadliest, with nearly 16,000 excess deaths recorded. www.diarioviseu.pt · www.thelocal.at · www.thelocal.no · www.pesterlloyd.net · havadis.at · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Germany recorded approximately 14,000 deaths linked to heatwaves up until August 9. www.diarioviseu.pt · www.thelocal.at · www.thelocal.no · www.pesterlloyd.net · havadis.at · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] An AFP count found 33,000 excess deaths or deaths directly linked to heat across eight countries: Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. www.diarioviseu.pt · www.thelocal.at · www.thelocal.no · www.pesterlloyd.net · havadis.at · +1 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Portugal recorded more than 600 excess deaths between mid-June and the end of July. www.diarioviseu.pt
[○ 1 SOURCE] The city of Valladolid activated a level 2 ozone alert after concentrations exceeded 120 µg/m³ for three consecutive days. www.renovablesverdes.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] June 2026 was recorded as the hottest June ever in Western Europe according to Copernicus data. www.sozcu.com.tr
[● 11 SOURCES] Approximately 14,000 people in Germany died due to heat-related causes between April 6 and August 9, 2026. www.sozcu.com.tr · labandadiario.com · www.periodicolea.com.ar · www.economix.gr · www.koutipandoras.gr · +6 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Nearly 4,500 heat-related deaths were recorded in Spain between June 1 and August 19, 2026. labandadiario.com · www.economix.gr · www.koutipandoras.gr · www.proson.gr · www.diarioviseu.pt
[○ 1 SOURCE] Wildfire smoke from Las Hurdes and Portugal has caused elevated levels of ozone and particulate matter in Castilla y León. www.meteorologiaenred.com
[● 6 SOURCES] Approximately 9,600 heat-related deaths in Germany occurred during the week of June 22 to June 28. www.sozcu.com.tr · labandadiario.com · www.periodicolea.com.ar · www.economix.gr · www.koutipandoras.gr · +1 more