Europe’s latest heatwave is beginning to ease, leaving behind more than 1,300 deaths and a stark reminder that the continent is warming faster than any other on Earth.
“More than 1300 excess deaths have been recorded since 21 June linked to high temperatures in Europe,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X.
The warning comes as Europe continues to grapple with another summer of record-breaking temperatures. According to the World Health Organization, around 150 million people have been exposed to extreme heat in recent weeks, with schools forced to close in some areas and electricity grids coming under strain.
“Heat stress is often called the “silent killer” – and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures.”
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
“Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average,” Tedros wrote, warning that what were once considered “once-in-a-generation” heatwaves are now occurring almost every year as a result of climate change.
Record-breaking weekend
The heatwave shattered temperature records across much of Europe as it swept eastward.
Germany registered its hottest day on record for the third consecutive day on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 41.7°C in Coschen, near the Polish border, according to preliminary data. In neighbouring Czechia, meteorologists recorded 41.9°C in Doksany, north of Prague, marking the country’s second straight day of record-breaking heat. Poland also set a new all-time temperature record, with the mercury climbing to 40.5°C in the western town of Słubice.
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Even Denmark, a country unaccustomed to such extremes, recorded its hottest day since measurements began in 1874, with temperatures reaching 36.6°C north of Odense, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute.
No protection against the “silent killer”
But the danger extends far beyond broken records. Health officials describe heat stress as a “silent killer,” particularly because much of Europe’s housing, workplaces and schools were not designed to cope with prolonged periods of extreme temperatures. Older people, young children, outdoor workers and those with chronic illnesses are among the most vulnerable.
A recent survey by the European Environment Agency and Eurofound suggests households remain ill-prepared for a warming climate: one in five respondents said they lacked basic measures to protect against extreme weather, such as shading, adequate ventilation or air conditioning, while more than 38% said they could not afford to keep their homes sufficiently cool during the summer.
The WHO says it is working with European governments to strengthen preparedness and emergency response, urging countries to adopt heat-health action plans as part of broader efforts to protect public health from climate change.
Brussels has also stepped up its focus on extreme heat. Under the EU’s climate adaptation strategy, the European Commission has called on member states to strengthen heat-health action plans, including early warning systems, cooling measures and better protection for vulnerable groups. Most adaptation measures, however, remain the responsibility of national, regional and local authorities.
