Europe Records Over 32,000 Excess Deaths During Summer Heat Waves

Europe saw more than 32,000 excess deaths between mid July and mid August, according to estimates from the EuroMomo monitoring platform. These figures are based on preliminary data from 23 European countries, though the total does not include parts of Eastern Europe. EuroMomo noted that the highest number of additional deaths occurred during the last week of June, with 16,000 cases, followed by approximately 8,000 deaths in the first week of July. Both peaks coincided with extreme heat waves.

In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute estimated that 14,000 people died due to heat this summer. This represents the highest value in the last ten years, surpassing the previous record of roughly 8,900 deaths. Additionally, an analysis by AFP of eight countries, including France, Spain, and England, found 33,000 additional deaths linked to heat from late May through August.

Health officials explain that heat is rarely the sole cause of death, such as in the case of heatstroke. Instead, high temperatures typically combine with pre existing conditions like kidney, lung, or cardiovascular diseases. Because heat is not listed as a direct cause on death certificates, researchers use statistical modeling to compare mortality rates during heat waves against non heat weeks.