European countries have reported that more than 10,000 people died during a week marked by extreme heat at the end of June 2026.
Extreme Heat Kills More Than 10,000 People Across Europe
Figures show that more than 9,000 of those who died were aged 65 or older.
Extreme heat can be deadly by causing heat-related illnesses, including conditions caused by the body overheating, or by worsening existing heart and respiratory diseases. Elderly people are among the groups most vulnerable to the effects of high temperatures.
Data collected from 27 European countries shows that 10,650 people died between June 22 and June 28, a period when temperatures reached extreme levels in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Researchers said no other major factor, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, was recorded during that period that could explain the sharp increase in deaths.
The extreme heat at the end of June disrupted electricity supplies, forced some schools to close, and broke temperature records in France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
France and Belgium were the only countries that recorded exceptionally high numbers of deaths. In Belgium, heat-related deaths exceeded any previous records recorded during extreme heat events since 2000.
Another study found that 2,700 people died from heat-related causes in England and Wales during May and June.
