Europe records increase in deaths related to extreme heat

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said around 2,877 people died in heatwaves recorded in May and June. The total is almost double that recorded for the entire summer of 2025. With data from July and August still pending, 2026 is already virtually the deadliest year in British history. The all-time record is in 2022, with 2,985 deaths during the entire season.

According to the Guardian, the UKHSA estimate is based on recorded deaths, calculating excess mortality compared to similar times in the past, in times without a heat wave. The number also takes into account medical care and hospital admissions for heat-related illnesses. AFP, BBC, Independent, Reuters and Sky News also highlighted this data.

In Germany, data from the Robert Koch Institute indicate that 9,800 people died as a result of high temperatures this year, surpassing the record of around 9,000 deaths recorded in 2018. More than 5,000 heat-related deaths occurred in the second half of June, when temperatures reached around 42°C in some areas of the country. Previously, Germany's Federal Statistical Office confirmed that deaths in the week of June 22-28 were 32% higher than in the same period last year. DW and Reuters provided more details.

Intense heat has also facilitated the occurrence and spread of forest fires in several European countries. Data from the European Forest Fire Information Service (EFFIS), cited by the Guardian, indicates that the hot, dry and windy weather from January to the beginning of July was 43% more severe than the average for the same period over the last two decades. So far, more than 435,000 hectares have been burned across the continent this year, which is approximately triple the historical average.

Spain and France are the countries most affected by the fire, with fires still active around Madrid and the Gironde region, respectively. The intensity of the flames has decreased in both locations, but firefighters are still facing difficulties in extinguishing the fire. With thermometers returning to temperatures close to 40°C, the main concern is that the heat will make the work of fighting the flames even more difficult.

While they are still fighting the fire, many residents of the affected regions are beginning to count the losses. The Associated Press and the Financial Times highlighted the concern of Bordeaux wine producers, who already estimate significant losses in their production.

In normally cold Scotland, authorities and residents are concerned about a fire in the Cairngorms Park region, in the Highlands, a national natural heritage site. For two weeks, the fire has persisted, burning sections of the park, threatening wildlife and forcing the evacuation of nearby communities.

“Southern Spain and southern France are starting to have the climate that North Africa had, and the United Kingdom is starting to have the climate that Spain or France had 20 years ago,” commented Grant Moir, executive director of Cairngorms, to the NY Times.

Associated Press, Bloomberg, Financial Times and Reuters also updated the fire situation in Europe.