More than 10,000 deaths in Europe due to heatwave

SadaNews - European countries recorded over 10,000 additional deaths during the record heatwave that swept across western Europe in late June, according to official data.

The vast majority of these deaths - more than 9,000 cases - were among individuals aged 65 and older.

Experts stated that the heatwave, which lasted from June 20 to 28, was the worst ever in European history, causing not only fatalities but also disruptions in electricity generation, damage to infrastructure, and a strain on healthcare systems.

Dr. Lasse Vestergard from the Danish Statens Serum Institute noted that "it is difficult to explain this significant rise in deaths by any cause other than extreme heat."

The Copernicus Climate Change Service, operated by the European Union, revealed that last June was the hottest month ever recorded in western Europe's history, coinciding with a new heatwave hitting the continent.

Experts pointed out that the heatwave experienced in Europe in late June was thought to be "practically impossible" without human-induced climate change, which makes heatwaves more frequent and intense.

Extreme heat can lead to fatalities through heat strokes or complications from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with the elderly being among the most at-risk groups.

In France, a maximum climate alert was declared for more than a third of the country's population on Sunday due to the severe heatwave that raised fears of wildfires threatening the nation.

The number of French people placed under a red alert - the highest warning level issued by the French meteorological service - was around 26 million.

This alert has also been expanded to include 37 departments in mainland France, according to calculations from Agence France-Presse.

The third severe heatwave to hit the country in two months is expected to continue until the middle of next week.

In a related context, wildfires have notably increased in recent days, most of which are attributed to "human activity," as noted by French President Emmanuel Macron in a message to the French people on Sunday, warning against any "negligence."

Fires have consumed more than 25,000 hectares since the beginning of the year, nearly double the total area for the same period in 2025, according to the French civil security agency.

In Germany, official figures showed that 99 people drowned in Germany during June, the highest monthly toll recorded since the extreme heatwave that struck Europe in 2003.

Germany was among the countries that experienced sweltering heat in western Europe last June, where record temperatures were recorded in several regions, reaching up to 41.7 degrees Celsius in some areas.

The German Lifesaving Association (DLRG) stated in a release on Sunday that "the country has not recorded this number of drownings since the heatwave in June 2003, when 107 people died," explaining that most of the drowning victims were young males.

In Spain, 11 people lost their lives in a wildfire that broke out in the town of Los Gaiardos near Almería in the southern region of Andalusia.

The gendarmerie and civil protection agency reported that the fire ignited in Los Gaiardos, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 individuals.

Authorities announced the discovery of three completely charred vehicles in the fire area, each containing a body, as well as eight additional charred bodies near the road leading to the town of Pidar.

They added that an investigation has been opened to identify the victims, while a specialized forensic team continues to examine the scene of the incident.

These countries are not exceptions, as many nations in western Europe have been experiencing heatwaves since June, leading to hundreds of deaths related to rising temperatures.