Europe recorded at least 35,000 excess deaths during four heatwaves this summer, according to figures released by Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
Provisional data shows that Germany, France, and Spain together accounted for more than 25,000 deaths. Experts expect the overall figure to rise once complete data for August becomes available.
Western Europe faced unusually severe heat this summer, with hundreds of weather stations breaking previous temperature records. France also recorded its hottest national average day on record.
Scientists have linked the extreme conditions to human-driven global warming, which is making intense heat events more frequent.
Germany recorded the highest toll among the countries covered by the data. The RKI estimated around 14,000 heat-related deaths between April 6 and August 9, 2026.
The agency also reported 9,600 deaths during the week of June 22 to June 28. EU excess mortality records dating back to 2008 show that the only other summer week with a similarly exceptional death count occurred in July 2022.
The RKI said Germany normally records fewer than 2,000 excess deaths during a typical summer. This year’s figure has already surpassed the previous record of 8,900 deaths in 2018.
The final European total may increase further when authorities include the remaining August data.
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