Translated with AI
During the heatwave that engulfed Europe in late June, 10,650 excess deaths were recorded in 27 countries. Reuters reports these figures, citing data from the pan-European mortality monitoring network EuroMOMO.
The observation period covers the period from June 22 to 28, and the statistics take into account absolutely all fatal outcomes, regardless of their direct cause.
More than 9,000 of the deaths were in the age group over 65 years.
Lasse Westergaard , coordinator of EuroMOMO and chief physician at the Danish National Serum Institute, described the recorded spike in mortality as unusual for this time of year. He stated that it is extremely difficult to attribute such a high level of excess mortality to any factor other than the extreme heat.
In Belgium, the excess mortality rate has broken all records set during heatwaves since 2000.
At the same time, the results of a separate scientific study conducted in London were published. Experts calculated that 2,700 people died in England and Wales due to causes directly related to heat exposure during the May and June heatwaves.
Earlier, the European climate service Copernicus reported that June 2026 was the hottest on record in Western Europe. The average temperature in the region was 20.74 degrees Celsius. This value exceeded the climate norm by 3.06 degrees Celsius – the largest positive deviation for June in the entire period of measurement. Record-breaking heat blanketed much of France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and a number of other countries. Furthermore, last June was recognized as the second-hottest June on record for Europe and the second-warmest June globally, behind only June 2024.
