Europe heatwave: WHO links 1,300+ excess deaths to extreme heat since June 21
Synopsis
More than 1,300 people have died across Europe in just over a week of extreme heat — and the WHO's chief says this is no longer an anomaly. With Europe warming at twice the global average, a 'once-in-a-generation' heatwave is now an annual threat, and the continent's homes, schools, and grids were simply not built for it.
Key Takeaways
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed more than 1,300 excess deaths across Europe linked to extreme heat since 21 June 2025 .
Approximately 150 million people are currently living under extreme heat conditions across the continent.
Europe is warming at twice the global average , making it the fastest-warming continent on Earth.
What was once a 'once-in-a-generation' heatwave is now occurring nearly every year, according to the WHO .
The WHO recommends setting air conditioning to 27°C with a fan, avoiding fans above 40°C , and checking on vulnerable people aged 65+ regularly.
Tedros has called on European governments to implement heat health action plans as part of climate-health preparedness.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday, 29 June revealed that more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded across Europe since 21 June, directly linked to an ongoing extreme heatwave. The warning, posted on social media platform X, underscores what health officials describe as a rapidly worsening public health emergency driven by climate change.
Scale of the Crisis
According to Tedros, approximately 150 million people across Europe are currently living under extreme heat conditions. Schools have been forced to shut, and electrical grids are reportedly buckling under the surge in demand. 'Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling,' he said in his post on X.
The WHO chief warned that heat stress is frequently described as the 'silent killer,' noting that European homes, workplaces, and schools were not designed to withstand such temperatures. The structural unpreparedness of the continent's built environment has amplified the death toll significantly.
Europe's Accelerating Warming Trend
Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average, according to Tedros. He cautioned that what was once considered a 'once-in-a-generation' heatwave is now occurring nearly every year, driven by climate change and global warming. This comes amid a broader pattern of record-breaking summers across the continent — a trend that climate scientists have long flagged as a direct consequence of rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Notably, this is not the first time Europe has faced catastrophic heat mortality. The 2003 European heatwave claimed an estimated 70,000 lives, and subsequent events in 2019 and 2022 also produced significant excess death tallies. The recurrence at near-annual frequency marks a structural shift, not an anomaly.
WHO Guidance for Staying Safe
The WHO has published detailed practical guidance on its website for individuals and households during extreme heat. Key recommendations include avoiding outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, staying in the shade, and spending at least two to three hours daily in a cool environment.
For cooling homes, the WHO advises using night air to lower indoor temperatures after dark, keeping windows and blinds closed during the day when outdoor temperatures exceed indoor levels, and switching off non-essential electrical appliances. On air conditioning, the guidance recommends setting thermostats to 27 degrees Celsius and pairing the unit with an electric fan — a combination that can make a room feel up to 4 degrees Celsius cooler and reduce cooling electricity bills by as much as 70 percent.
The WHO cautions that electric fans should only be used when temperatures are below 40 degrees Celsius; above that threshold, fans can actually increase body heat rather than reduce it.
Protecting Vulnerable Groups
The guidance places particular emphasis on safeguarding high-risk individuals, including those aged 65 and above and people with heart, lung, or kidney conditions, disabilities, or those living alone. Regular check-ins with such individuals are strongly advised.
Parents and caregivers are warned never to leave children or animals in parked vehicles. The WHO also cautions against covering infant strollers with dry fabric — which traps heat — recommending instead a wet, thin cloth that should be re-wetted as necessary.
What the WHO Is Calling For
Tedros called on European governments to implement heat health action plans as part of a wider agenda to protect public health against climate change. The WHO is working with member states and partners to strengthen preparedness, prevention, and health system responses to extreme heat events. With temperatures forecast to remain elevated across much of the continent, the coming days will be critical for public health authorities.
Point of View
300-death figure is almost certainly an undercount — excess mortality from heat is notoriously under-reported in real time, and historical revisions have consistently pushed final tallies higher. More troubling is the structural framing: Tedros is not describing a crisis, he is describing a new baseline. Europe's built environment, from housing insulation to grid capacity, was engineered for a climate that no longer exists. The WHO's call for heat health action plans is sound, but voluntary national plans have been on the agenda since the 2003 catastrophe. The gap between recommendation and implementation — two decades wide — is the real story that demands scrutiny.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many excess deaths has the Europe heatwave caused according to the WHO?
The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded across Europe since 21 June, directly linked to extreme heat. The figure was shared in a post on social media platform X on Sunday, 29 June.
Why is Europe particularly vulnerable to heatwaves?
Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average according to the WHO. Additionally, European homes, workplaces, and schools were not built to withstand the extreme temperatures now being recorded, leaving populations structurally exposed.
What is the WHO advising people to do during the heatwave?
The WHO recommends avoiding outdoor activity during peak heat hours, spending two to three hours daily in a cool place, setting air conditioning to 27 degrees Celsius with a fan, and drinking at least one cup of water per hour. It also advises against using electric fans when temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
Who is most at risk during extreme heat events?
The WHO identifies people aged 65 and above, and those with heart, lung, or kidney conditions, disabilities, or those living alone as the most vulnerable. Regular check-ins with these groups are strongly recommended during heatwaves.
What is the WHO calling on European governments to do?
Tedros has urged European countries to implement heat health action plans as part of a broader effort to protect public health against climate change. The WHO is also working with member states and partners to strengthen preparedness, prevention, and health system responses to extreme heat.
