WHO: Over 1,300 heat-related deaths in Europe in one week

Europe is sweltering under an exceptional heatwave, with the World Health Organization estimating over 1,300 heat-related deaths in a single week. France alone accounted for about 1,000 fatalities.

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From June 21, more than 1,300 excess deaths linked to high temperatures have been registered in Europe.

Record temperatures are gripping the continent, with Poland reaching 40.5 degrees Celsius. Cooler air from the North Atlantic is forecast to arrive from Tuesday, potentially lowering temperatures with showers and thunderstorms. Italy is also experiencing suffocating heat, with cities like Milan, Florence, Rome, and Naples nearing 40 degrees Celsius.

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It is the continent that is warming fastest on Earth, with warming double the global average.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average. "150 million people are currently living under extreme heatwaves," he warned, calling it "the silent killer." He noted that European buildings are ill-equipped for these temperatures.

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Right now, 150 million people are living under extreme heatwaves.

France's national public health agency reported around 1,000 excess deaths since Wednesday, with the toll expected to rise, particularly among those over 65. However, this year's heatwave, while intense, is not yet comparable to the severe heatwave in 2003, according to the French health minister.

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It is often called 'the silent killer': European homes, workplaces, and schools have not been built for these temperatures.