Heat wave-hit Europe logs over 30,000 excess summer deaths: First figures

Europe saw at least 30,000 excess deaths across a blistering summer of back-to-back heat waves and drought that scientists have blamed on man-made climate change, according to provisional figures.

The top 3

  1. The 2003 European Heatwave's Devastating Toll: The 2003 European heatwave, the hottest summer since 1540, caused an estimated 70,000 to over 73,000 excess deaths across the continent, with France alone reporting around 15,000 fatalities.
  2. Global Heatwave Fatalities: Top Historical Events: Beyond Europe, some of the deadliest heatwaves globally include Russia in 2010 with 56,000 deaths, and the 1540 European drought which caused an estimated 500,000 deaths from dysentery and famine.
  3. Europe's Hottest Summers on Record: The summer of 2003 was Europe's hottest since 1540, with temperatures soaring to over 46°C in some regions. Western Europe also experienced its warmest June on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 20.74°C.

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