Heatwave in Europe: A Disaster without Precedent
The heatwave that swept through Western Europe until the beginning of last week continues to cause damage, with the number of deaths due to extreme heat increasing every day. On Friday (3/7), Belgium released the number of deaths due to high temperatures, and France updated its numbers, amid expectations that a new heatwave will hit the region this week.
Belgium: 39% more Deaths than Expected
Belgium recorded 39% more deaths than expected between June 18 and 29 due to extreme temperatures. Provisional data from the Ministry of Health showed that there were 1,222 more deaths during this period, and more than half of these people were 85 years old or older. This level of excess mortality during a heatwave is unprecedented in our country, the ministry said in a statement.
France: Number of Deaths Increased by almost 30%
In France, the number of registered deaths increased by almost 30% during the hottest week of the record heatwave, according to the Guardian. And the expectation is that the number of fatalities will increase even more, since initially the French authorities counted just over 1,000 deaths. The French Public Health agency reported on Friday that there were 2,025 additional deaths compared to the week before the extreme heat. And emphasized that the number is likely underestimated.
Spain and the Netherlands also Affected
In Spain, official data released on Wednesday (1/7) showed that the country recorded 1,029 deaths attributed to heat in the previous month. It was the second hottest June on record in Spanish territory. Until then, it had been the highest number of heat-related deaths since June 2015. And more than double the 407 heat-related deaths in June 2025 – the hottest June in Spain since records began in 1961.
The unprecedented heatwave caused around 480 additional deaths in the Netherlands, Dutch health authorities reported on Thursday (2/7). The excess deaths during the week of June 22-28 occurred mainly among people aged 80 or older. The Netherlands broke the temperature record for the month of June. Thermometers reached almost 40°C.
Conclusion
The heatwave that hit Western Europe is a disaster without precedent, with over 3,000 estimated deaths. It is essential that governments and authorities take measures to prevent and mitigate the effects of extreme heat, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
Source / Reference
Source: ClimaInfo