June 29, World (LNW): An intense heatwave sweeping across Europe has been linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths in recent weeks, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to urge governments to strengthen measures aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from extreme temperatures.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the prolonged spell of exceptionally hot weather has become a growing public health emergency, describing heat stress as a “silent killer”. In a message posted on X, he warned that Europe is experiencing warming at nearly twice the global average, making severe heatwaves increasingly frequent and dangerous.
The continent has continued to shatter temperature records as the heat spreads eastwards. Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic all registered record-breaking temperatures over the weekend, with Germany recording 41.7°C in the eastern town of Coschen. Poland reached a historic 40.5°C in Slubice, while the Czech Republic reported 41.1°C in Doksany, north of Prague.
French health authorities also reported a significant rise in heat-related fatalities, estimating around 1,000 more deaths than expected since the middle of last week. Officials noted that older adults, particularly those aged 65 and above, have been disproportionately affected, alongside a sharp increase in the number of people dying at home during the heatwave.
The WHO warned that millions of Europeans are currently enduring hazardous conditions, with schools forced to close in some areas, electricity networks coming under strain and healthcare systems facing increased pressure. Many homes, workplaces and public buildings across Europe were designed for milder climates, leaving residents less equipped to cope with prolonged periods of extreme heat.
Tedros attributed the worsening conditions to climate change, cautioning that heatwaves once considered rare are now occurring almost every year. He urged European governments to expand heat-health action plans, improve public awareness and strengthen long-term climate resilience to reduce the growing human and economic costs of extreme weather.