Austria Records 646 Heat-Related Deaths in June and July

Austria recorded an estimated 646 deaths linked to extreme heat in June and July, the country’s highest reported figure for those two months.

The number exceeds the previous record of 570 deaths during the same period in 2024. In 2023, the comparable figure stood at 284. AGES previously estimated that 395 people died from heat-related causes in June alone, an average of 13 deaths per day.

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The figure of 395 deaths in June linked to extreme heat is shocking. It clearly shows that heat is not just a matter of comfort, but a concrete danger to health and life. The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly visible in Austria, creating new challenges for our healthcare system.

Health Minister Korinna Schumann said the figures show that heat is a direct threat to health and life, not simply a matter of comfort. She said the government must also examine what rising temperatures mean for the healthcare system and institutions serving vulnerable people.

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When it comes to heat, we must not focus only on the number of heat-related deaths. We must also consider what this increasing heat means for our healthcare system.

The ministry is analyzing heat stress and extreme-heat events alongside the locations of hospitals, nursing and care homes, and primary healthcare units. Schumann said the work aims to identify areas and institutions facing particular risks so that efforts can be directed there.

AGES bases the figures on a scientific model because deaths caused by extreme heat are not recorded directly. The latest estimate comes as heatwaves continue to affect Austria.

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We will not pretend that there is a simple answer to a complex development. But we can study very carefully where the greatest risks lie, and that is exactly where we must direct our efforts.