Heatwave caused more than 10000 excess deaths across Europe during the final week of June 2026, according to new mortality data published by EuroMOMO, a surveillance network supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The analysis found 10,650 excess deaths across 27 European countries between June 22 and June 28, when a record-breaking heatwave swept across western Europe. More than 9,000 of these deaths occurred among people aged 65 and above, highlighting the disproportionate impact of extreme heat on older adults.

Scientists say the event would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change, which is increasing the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves worldwide.

Older Adults Bore the Greatest Burden

• The study found that nearly 85% of the excess deaths occurred among people aged 65 years and older, a group particularly vulnerable to heat stress.
• Extreme heat can cause heatstroke, dehydration, and can worsen existing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
• Older adults often face greater risks because their bodies are less able to regulate temperature, and many live with chronic health conditions.

According to Lasse Vestergaard, Chief Physician at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut, the unusually high mortality at this time of year strongly points to the heatwave as the primary cause.

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Climate Change Made the Heatwave More Severe

Researchers say the heatwave caused more than 10000 excess deaths across Europe during a period that saw record temperatures across France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and several other European countries.

Scientists have concluded that the late-June event would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change. Rising global temperatures are making extreme heat events more frequent, longer-lasting, and more intense across Europe.

The heatwave not only threatened public health but also disrupted daily life by causing power outages, forcing school closures, and breaking multiple temperature records.

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No Other Major Health Event Explains the Spike

EuroMOMO’s analysis measures all-cause excess mortality, meaning it compares the total number of deaths with expected seasonal averages rather than counting only officially confirmed heat-related deaths.

• Researchers noted there were no significant COVID-19 outbreaks or other major public health events during the reporting period that could explain the sudden increase in deaths.
• Interestingly, mortality across the same 27 countries had remained around 500 deaths below expected levels per week during the previous eight weeks, making the sharp rise even more striking.

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France and Belgium Were Among the Hardest Hit

Although EuroMOMO does not publish country-specific mortality totals, it reported that France and Belgium experienced “very high excess mortality” during the final week of June.

Belgium’s public health institute Sciensano stated that the country recorded its highest heatwave-related excess mortality since records began in 2000.

Meanwhile, a separate study by Imperial College London, the UK Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine estimated that 2,700 people died from heat-related causes in England and Wales during the May and June 2026 heatwaves. Researchers concluded that 42% of those deaths were directly attributable to additional warming caused by climate change.

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