Urgent.News

What's breaking now, across thousands of outlets.

Health & Medicine

Bundesregierung: Deutschland im Hitzestress – „Je untätiger die Regierung ist, desto teurer wird es am Ende“

Waldbrände und historische Niedrigwasserstände bringen Wirtschaft und Gesundheitssystem an ihre Grenzen. Die Kritik an der Klimapolitik von Kanzler Friedrich Merz wächst.

Original German Read in English

Bundesregierung: Deutschland im Hitzestress – „Je untätiger die Regierung ist, desto teurer wird es am Ende“

Germany faces a summer of extreme weather, with the Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) predicting record-breaking temperatures this year, according to a report by the Handelsblatt. The DWD expects temperatures to surpass all previous records and warns of the high risks heat poses, not just to the economy, but also to public health.

According to an exclusive analysis by Prognos, a Wirtschaftsforschungsunternehmen, the economic impact of the prolonged heatwave could be significant. The Rhein River's water level in Kaub hit its lowest point in 1880, significantly affecting shipping and industrial supply chains. Health risks also increase, with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) estimating that around 5,100 people died in June 2026 due to the heat, more than the total number of fatalities in any of the previous three years.

By mid-July, the RKI reported 9,800 heat-related deaths, and currently, they have listed 11,900 people who died as a result of heat.

Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

Read the original at handelsblatt.com →

More in Health & Medicine

More from Thursday 6 August →