The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the ongoing heatwave sweeping across Europe has been linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths since June 21, as record-breaking temperatures continue to strain health systems and threaten millions of people.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus disclosed the figure on Sunday, describing extreme heat as a growing public health emergency driven by climate change.
“More than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded since 21 June linked to high temperatures in Europe,” Tedros said in a post on X.
He warned that heat-related illnesses are often underestimated despite their deadly impact.
“Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ – and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures.”
The warning came as tens of millions of people across the continent endured another weekend of intense heat, with temperatures continuing to move eastward.
French health authorities reported about 1,000 more deaths than expected between Wednesday and Sunday alone, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Forecasts indicate that at least 191 million people across Europe are expected to experience temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher, with the most intense conditions affecting Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
Overall, an estimated 381 million people across Europe, excluding Turkey, are expected to face temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.
Tedros said the humanitarian and public health impact of the heatwave continues to grow.
“Millions of people across the continent are currently living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling.”
He attributed the increasing frequency of such weather events to climate change.
“Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the ‘once-in-a-generation’ heatwave is now occurring nearly annual.”
He also noted that Europe remains the world’s fastest-warming continent.
“Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average.”
The WHO chief said the agency is working with member states and international partners to strengthen preparedness, improve prevention strategies and bolster health systems against the growing threat of extreme heat.
He urged governments across Europe to implement comprehensive heat health action plans to better protect vulnerable populations as climate-related weather extremes become more frequent.
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