Repeated heat waves across Europe during the summer of 2026 have been associated with thousands of deaths and growing pressure on health services. Public-health agencies in Germany, England, and France have reported unusually high mortality during periods of extreme heat, while the World Health Organization has warned that rising temperatures do not affect all members of society equally.
Germany’s Robert Koch Institute estimated that approximately 9,800 heat-related deaths had occurred across the country by the end of epidemiological week 29. Because heat-related deaths are often not directly identified on death certificates, the institute used statistical models to compare death rates during hot periods with the number normally expected. It gave an estimated range of between 8,700 and 10,900 deaths and stated that the final summer total remained incomplete.
Older adults represented the largest share of Germany’s estimated deaths. Aging can make it more difficult for the body to control its temperature, and older people may be less likely to feel thirsty or recognize the early signs of heat illness. They are also more likely to have existing medical conditions or take medications that affect the body’s ability to respond to high temperatures.
England’s UK Health Security Agency estimated 2,877 heat-associated deaths during heat events in May and June. Around 753 were associated with the May event, while approximately 2,124 were associated with the larger heat event in June. This was already close to the highest annual heat-mortality figure in the agency’s earlier records and was significantly higher than the estimated 1,504 deaths recorded during the entire summer of 2025.
France also reported a sharp rise in deaths during a heat wave that lasted from June 17 through July 2. France’s national public health agency, Santé publique France, estimated at least 5,764 excess deaths from all causes between June 17 and July 2 in departments affected by the heat. People aged 75 and older accounted for around two-thirds of those deaths. However, the French total does not mean that heat was confirmed as the direct cause of every death. “Excess deaths” refers to the number of deaths above what would normally be expected during the same period.
Because Germany, England, and France use different methods, their figures cannot simply be added together to create a single European death toll. Germany and England estimate deaths statistically associated with high temperatures, while the French figure includes all additional deaths recorded during heat-wave days. Each set of numbers nevertheless shows that extreme heat has become a major public-health danger.
According to the World Health Organization, extreme heat can prevent the human body from maintaining a safe internal temperature. It can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, while also worsening heart disease, breathing conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, and some mental-health conditions. Hot nights are especially dangerous because the body has less time to recover from the stress of the day.
The health risk is not distributed equally. Older adults, infants, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses may be more physically vulnerable. Outdoor and manual workers may face longer exposure because their jobs require them to remain outside or work near heat-producing equipment. People with limited mobility may also find it harder to reach cooling centers, medical care, or other safe locations.
Some households have access to effective cooling and safer housing, while others live in crowded, poorly ventilated, or low-quality buildings and may be unable to afford adequate cooling. People experiencing homelessness may have little protection from direct sunlight and hot nighttime temperatures.
Working conditions have become another concern. Construction workers, agricultural laborers, delivery workers, and others whose jobs involve physical activity may face dehydration and heat stress. Reuters reported that rules protecting employees from dangerous heat vary considerably across Europe. Some countries limit outdoor labor when temperatures rise, while others rely mainly on employers to decide when workers should receive extra water, shade, rest breaks, or changes in working hours.
European governments have responded with public warnings, heat-health alerts, changes to working schedules, and emergency preparations. Some employers have moved shifts to earlier hours or provided cooling equipment. Italy announced that all 27 of its major cities would be placed under the highest red heat alert on August 6. A red alert indicates that prolonged heat may threaten the health of the general population, not only people normally considered vulnerable.
The World Health Organization recommends early-warning systems, public heat alerts, heat-health action plans, medical preparations, and programs that identify communities at the highest risk. These measures can help authorities contact isolated residents, protect workers, prepare hospitals, and provide access to cooler public spaces.
Europe’s 2026 heat waves affected millions of people, but the danger was greatest for those whose age, health, occupation, income, or housing made it harder to avoid high temperatures. The reported deaths show that extreme heat is not only a weather event but also a continuing public-health emergency requiring preparation from governments, employers, healthcare systems, and local communities.
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