Heatwave death toll rises across Europe

Europe is facing one of its most intense heatwaves on record, with soaring temperatures claiming lives, disrupting transport and shattering weather records across the continent. Scientists say the extreme conditions were made significantly more likely by climate change, while global ocean temperatures have also reached unprecedented June highs.

Spain experienced its hottest first six months since weather records began, with average temperatures 1.6C above normal, according to the national weather agency Aemet.

“The seven warmest first semesters… have occurred over the past 10 years,” the agency said in a post on X.

June 2026 became Spain’s second-hottest June on record, with temperatures averaging 3.2C above the norm.

The extreme heat has also taken a heavy human toll. Spain’s Carlos III Health Institute said 1,028 people died from heat-related causes during the recent heatwave.

The figure is more than double the 407 heat-related deaths recorded in June 2025, which was previously Spain’s hottest June since records began.

Europe shatters temperature records

The heatwave that swept across Europe from late June has been described by the World Weather Attribution group as the most severe ever recorded in Europe and one that would have been “virtually impossible” in June without climate change.

Several countries broke all-time temperature records, including Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The UK and Switzerland also recorded their hottest June temperatures on record, while France experienced its highest-ever average nighttime temperatures.

Talking about the situation, a London-based entrepreneur, Sanjeev Kumar, said, “UK homes are generally designed to trap heat with double-glazed doors. Most of our homes and most of our public transport don’t have ACs. Even some of the cafes don’t have ACs. Now people are buying fans and ACs. TFL transport, London buses, don’t have air conditioning in them. They only have heating in it because we have cold temperatures. So, this is the reality of it now with climate change. So, London is facing the new reality.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1,300 excess deaths linked to the heatwave have been recorded across Europe since 21 June.

-Firstpost