Europe heatwave kills at least 1,300, France reports 1,000 excess deaths in one week

Heatwave toll across Europe

The World Health Organization says at least 1,300 people have died from causes linked to extreme heat since 21 June, with roughly 150 million people affected across the continent. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that heatwaves, once called historic, are now an annual event because of climate change.

Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth; because of climate change, heatwaves that were once called historic now occur every year.

He described the phenomenon as a silent killer, noting that European homes, schools, and workplaces were not built for such temperatures.

France under extreme pressure

The French national public health agency, Santé Publique France, registered around 1,000 more deaths since Wednesday compared with previous months. Data from 24 June show over 1,200 deaths, and on both 25 and 26 June the daily toll exceeded 1,400. The April–May baseline was between 900 and 1,000 deaths per day.

The figures are provisional, based on digital certificates covering about 60 percent of all deaths, so the real number is likely higher. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez added that 74 people have drowned in France since 18 June, deaths he linked directly to the heat.

Heat acts with a delay, especially for vulnerable people, but also for younger ones.

Spread across the continent

In Italy, 18 cities (including Rome and Milan) were placed under the highest weather alert, with residents advised to stay indoors from 11:00 to 18:00. Germany recorded its highest-ever nighttime minimum temperature of 29.4 °C, and Deutsche Bahn urged passengers to limit non-essential travel. Poland’s Institute of Meteorology and Water Management issued a warning through Monday, with daytime highs expected up to 42 °C and nighttime lows around 25 °C.

Who is dying and where

Some 85 percent of the victims in France were aged at least 65, and the number of people dying at home rose by about 40 percent, especially in the Paris region. Authorities are calling for greater social solidarity and support for elderly and isolated residents. Health Minister Rist stressed that chronic-illness patients may feel the effects for weeks, meaning pressure on hospitals will persist even after temperatures drop.

Government response and economic ripple

The French government has allocated €100 million for air conditioners, fans, and other cooling equipment for hospitals. Economic disruption is already visible across the continent: transport, energy generation, and food supply chains are strained. Extreme weather events are becoming a material risk for European businesses, analysts noted.