Europe scorched by heat wave: more than 1,300 people dead

Extreme heat that has been affecting Europe since the end of June has caused at least 1,300 deaths. France recorded over a thousand 'excess deaths,' while experts warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves.

Europe is battling an extreme heat wave that took hold early in the summer. Thermometers showed 40 degrees Celsius in Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland, while towns in France saw temperatures rise to 44 degrees Celsius. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that more than 1,300 'excess deaths' have been reported across the continent since June 21.

Deaths and affected countries

France's Public Health Agency reported 1,000 excess deaths during the heat wave that began on June 20. Most of the deaths occurred among people aged 65 and over, though the agency noted that the extreme heat affected the health of the entire population.

In Spain, a 90-year-old woman died from heatstroke in a nursing home near Bilbao, and a 68-year-old man also died from heatstroke in Almeria, authorities reported. In Germany, at least seven people died in heat-wave-related incidents. In Berlin on Saturday, two people drowned in separate swimming accidents; a group found a man unresponsive in Jungfernheideteich lake. Across France, at least 40 people drowned.

Heat stress and health risks

Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, a lecturer at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, said heat waves strain the body's ability to regulate temperature, leading to heat stress. This can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and, in severe cases, heatstroke, Konstantinoudis said. 'Heatstroke requires emergency intervention, with symptoms including body temperature rising above 40 degrees Celsius, confusion, loss of consciousness, rapid pulse and breathing,' he said.

The expert stressed that heat stress can trigger fatal events such as heart attack, stroke and respiratory failure, especially among the elderly, the disabled and those without adequate cooling access.

Climate change fingerprint

Meteorologists explained that the extreme temperatures in Europe this month were created by a 'heat dome,' a large high-pressure area, which was locked in place by a weather system known as an omega block. As the jet stream, which normally moves from west to east, is disrupted, hot and stagnant air lingers over the same region for days.

Dr. Laurie Parsons from Royal Holloway, University of London, said the global average temperature is about 1.25 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and that in 2024 this gap rose to 1.55 degrees. 'The probability of experiencing heat waves, as we are seeing, is about 30 times higher than before climate change. An exceptional heat wave like the current one, which in the past would have occurred once every 300 years, now occurs more than once a decade,' Parsons said.

Consecutive measures from countries

Because summers in Europe have traditionally been temperate, buildings are designed to retain heat. But in recent years, governments have begun to take measures. Programs to monitor the well-being of the elderly have accelerated in Paris and Denmark, while Barcelona has opened more than 500 climate shelters. The European Trade Union Confederation last week called on the European Commission for a maximum working temperature law.

Meanwhile, National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen in France announced she would launch a 'big air-conditioning plan' if she came to power. However, scientists stress that air conditioners increase global warming because their electricity consumption still relies heavily on fossil fuels. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), by 2050, cooling is expected to account for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Experts call for sustainable solutions

'Cooling is essential for the health and well-being of billions of people. But current systems are extremely polluting and energy-intensive, making the extreme heat problem worse and creating a vicious cycle,' said Martin Krause, Director of the UNEP Climate Change Division.

Joeri Rogelj from the Grantham Institute said that relying solely on reactive measures is insufficient. 'The heat waves we are experiencing are caused by the rapidly increasing global warming resulting from greenhouse gas emissions from our economies. Therefore, action on both the symptoms and the causes is essential,' he said.

UNEP recommends that countries adopt nature-based 'passive cooling' strategies, building designs that dissipate heat in urban planning, a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, and the strengthening of health infrastructure along with early warning systems.