Europe Heatwave Claims Over 1,300 Lives as WHO Warns of Climate Change Impact

Europe is grappling with a deadly heatwave, with the World Health Organization reporting more than 1,300 excess deaths across the continent since June 21. Millions are enduring extreme temperatures, with some countries reporting significant increases in mortality and healthcare services warning of overload.

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Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ – and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for such temperatures.

France alone registered approximately 1,000 more deaths than expected since Wednesday, as the heatwave moves eastward. The WHO chief, Tedros Adhanomas Ghebreyesus, described heat stress as a "silent killer," noting that European homes, workplaces, and schools are ill-equipped for such conditions. Forecasts indicate that by Sunday, at least 191 million people in Europe will experience temperatures of 35°C or higher, with Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland facing particularly intense heat.

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In Europe, more than 1,300 additional deaths have been registered since June 21, associated with high temperatures in Europe.

"Hundreds of people have died, schools are closed, power grids are failing," Ghebreyesus stated, highlighting that climate change is causing events that once occurred once per generation to happen almost annually. He pointed out that Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average.

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Millions of people across the continent are living in extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are closed, power grids are failing.

The WHO is collaborating with member states and partners to address the health threats posed by extreme heat. Ghebreyesus urged European nations to implement health-based heat action plans as part of broader efforts to protect public health amid escalating climate change.

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Climate change and global warming are making a phenomenon that occurred once in every human generation, happen almost every year.