EuroMOMO estimated 14,260 excess deaths across Europe in the week ending June 28, out of 84,583 total deaths, with more than 12,000 among people 65 and older.
Late June brought record or near-record heat across much of the continent, and EuroMOMO’s coordinator said there was no other obvious explanation for such a highly unusual one-week mortality spike.
France, Belgium and Germany showed the highest excess-mortality rates in EuroMOMO data, while national estimates pointed to 6,830 heat deaths in Germany through early July, 2,700 in England and Wales in May-June, and 937 in Spain in June.
The surge is an early warning for summer 2026: many heat-linked deaths are never formally recorded as such, and Europe’s heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense as climate change worsens.
With thousands dead in one week, can German cities be redesigned in time for worsening heatwaves?
As heat deaths surge, what is the true economic cost of Germany's climate adaptation failures?
Germany’s 2026 Heatwave Kills 5,120: Human Toll, Policy Failures, and the Race for Climate Resilience
Overview
Germany experienced a devastating human toll during the Summer 2026 heatwave, with over 5,000 heat-related deaths and a 32% spike in weekly mortality. Experts confirm a clear link between extreme heat and increased fatalities, a pattern also seen in the deadly 2003 heatwave. This crisis was part of a broader European trend, as the continent recorded its hottest June on record and over 14,000 excess deaths in a single week. The report highlights how rising temperatures, lack of air conditioning, and vulnerable populations combined to create a severe public health emergency, underscoring the urgent need for adaptation and climate action.