More Than 1,300 Dead as Europe Heatwave Pushes Systems to Breaking Point

Europe’s latest heatwave has exposed how quickly extreme temperatures can turn into a public health and infrastructure crisis, with more than 1,300 excess deaths recorded since June 21 and several countries reporting pressure on hospitals, power systems, transport networks and emergency services.

Temperatures reached around 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the continent over the weekend, while storms swept through other regions after days of severe heat. France has reported about 1,000 excess deaths during the most intense three-day period, and Germany has logged record daytime and night-time temperatures.

Forecasters expect cooler weather to return to much of Western Europe later this week. But health officials have warned that the impact of a heatwave does not end immediately when temperatures fall, especially for older people, those with chronic illnesses and people living in poorly cooled homes.

Europe heatwave turns into a health emergency

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Europe is now the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average. He said about 150 million people are currently living under extreme heat conditions, with schools shut, electricity grids under strain and hundreds of deaths already reported.

“Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average. Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling,” Tedros wrote on X. He added that heatwaves once considered rare are now becoming almost annual events.

The WHO chief described heat stress as a “silent killer”, noting that many European homes, classrooms and workplaces were not built for prolonged extreme heat. He urged governments to strengthen heat health action plans, which usually include early warnings, cooling centres, public health messaging and protection for vulnerable groups.

France has been among the worst-hit countries. Public Health France said daily deaths rose from the usual 900 to 1,000 seen in April and May to more than 1,200 on Wednesday, before crossing 1,400 on both Thursday and Friday. The agency estimated at least 1,000 additional deaths during those three days.

Officials said the number may rise as more deaths, including those at private homes, are reported. Most of the fatalities were among elderly people. Around 85 per cent of those who died were aged 65 or above, with the sharpest increases in regions placed under the highest red alert.

Germany records extreme heat, fires and transport disruption

Germany also faced exceptional conditions. The German Weather Service recorded a new daytime high of 41.5 degrees Celsius in Mockern-Drewitz and a record night-time temperature of 29.4 degrees Celsius in Kubschutz. Both readings surpassed marks set only a day earlier, underlining the intensity of the heat spell.

Emergency services in Berlin reported around 500 additional ambulance callouts on Saturday, many linked to heat-related illness. Police in the capital used water cannons near the Brandenburg Gate to spray cooling water over residents and tourists gathered in the city centre.

The heat contributed to major forest fires in parts of Germany. In Gohrischheide, firefighters had to operate in an area where unexploded World War II ammunition remains in the forest. Near Traisen, emergency crews temporarily suspended operations after old ammunition exploded in a burning wooded area.

Transport networks also showed signs of strain. Concrete road surfaces buckled on several highways, while Deutsche Bahn advised passengers to avoid unnecessary journeys. More than 600 people were evacuated from a Hamburg-to-Prague train after storms brought down overhead power lines, cutting electricity and air conditioning.

In Leipzig, tram services were suspended after high temperatures damaged tracks and switches. Such disruption highlights a growing problem for European infrastructure, much of which was designed around older climate assumptions and is now being tested by more frequent extremes.

Power, rivers and agriculture come under pressure

The prolonged heat has also affected rivers, energy production and farming. Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant reduced output because the Danube River, used for cooling, became too warm. In Italy, the Po River’s flow has dropped sharply, allowing seawater to move nearly 18 kilometres inland.

That saltwater intrusion threatens agriculture and protected wetlands in the Po delta. Low river levels can also affect shipping, irrigation and cooling systems for power stations, creating wider economic consequences beyond the immediate danger to public health.

Authorities across Europe have reported dozens of drowning deaths as people entered rivers, lakes and the sea to escape the heat. Public health agencies often warn that open-water swimming can become riskier during heatwaves, particularly where currents, cold water shock, alcohol use or poor visibility are involved.

Severe storms followed the heat in several areas. In southern Sweden, lightning struck the Tosselilla Sommarland amusement park, injuring several people. Three adults were taken to hospital, including a woman reported to have serious injuries. Denmark also faced heavy thunderstorms after weekend temperature records.

Greece remained on alert after authorities warned of a very high fire risk across five regions because of hot and dry conditions. In France, thunderstorms brought cooler air to many areas, though some northeastern regions remained under heat alerts. Around 36,000 households in northern and central France lost electricity, according to Enedis.

Scientists say the severity of the heatwave fits the pattern expected in a warming climate. A rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution concluded that last week’s heatwave would have been virtually impossible without human-driven climate change. The group said extreme night-time temperatures are now far more likely than two decades ago.

The immediate forecast may bring relief to parts of Western Europe, but officials say the lesson is broader. Heatwaves are no longer only short weather events; they are public health, infrastructure and climate-risk events that require planning before temperatures reach dangerous levels.