Over 50,000 heat deaths in European cities this summer
Scientists estimate that over 50,000 people died prematurely because of high temperatures across 854 European cities between June and August this year, making it Europe's deadliest summer heat on record.
Over the summer of 2026, at least 50,000 premature deaths in Europe were linked to extreme heat, marking the deadliest summer on record. Two-thirds of these deaths were attributed to climate change, primarily due to fossil fuel emissions. This number represents a 70% increase compared to previous heatwaves in 2003 and 2022. Researchers from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine analyzed data from urban areas in 30 European countries, encompassing nearly 173 million people, or 40% of the EU27, UK, Norway, and Switzerland population.
In Ireland, approximately 60 people died prematurely from heat during the summer months, with 60% of those deaths linked to climate change. The additional 32,619 deaths attributable to climate change surpassed the heat-related mortality from the summers of 2003 or 2022. Dr Clair Barnes noted the severe consequences of rising temperatures, emphasizing the impact on public health.
Extreme heatwaves affected much of Western Europe, with temperatures up to 12C above the norm. Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the UK experienced the highest death tolls, with 6,000 under 65-year-olds also succumbing to the heat. The proportion of heat-related deaths due to climate change has risen from 40% to 65% in recent years.
Dr Pierre Masselot stressed that climate change affects regions beyond Europe's typical hot areas, and European cities need better adaptation measures, such as urban cooling, green spaces, and healthcare. The analysis focused on urban populations, suggesting the total heat-related deaths in Europe may be higher.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
