Europe’s heatwave ‘linked to 1,300 deaths’ as more records broken
The unprecedented early summer heatwave in Europe could be responsible for hundreds of deaths, according to the head of the World Health Organization (WHO).
As extreme heat continues to move eastward, temperature records were broken again across the continent on Sunday, including in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded since June 21 “associated with high temperatures in Europe.”
“Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ and homes, workplaces and schools in Europe are not built for these temperatures,” he said.
France’s national health ministry said Sunday morning that the country had nearly 1,000 more deaths than expected since Wednesday.
After recording a 40% increase in the number of deaths at home, the agency said most of the extra deaths were among people over 65.
“Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world, warming at twice the global average,” Tedros warned.
He added that millions of people across the continent are now “living in extreme heat, hundreds are dying, schools are closed, grids are down.”
