Europe is currently experiencing one of the deadliest heatwaves on record. The latest data from 2026 shows that the number of deaths related to high temperatures across countries has exceeded 25,000. Among them, Germany has the highest number of heatwave-related deaths, approaching 12,000.
According to a report by Bloomberg on Thursday, various European government agencies and research institutes have disclosed data showing that since the start of summer, the total number of heat-related deaths in Europe has been steadily increasing, now surpassing 25,000. Germany leads in the number of deaths caused by the heatwave.
Due to lagging statistics, the currently released data does not include the impact of a new round of heatwaves at the beginning of August, so the actual number of deaths may further rise.
As reported by Deutsche Presse-Agentur on Thursday, the Robert Koch Institute released the latest revised data: the number of heat-related deaths in Germany this year has been adjusted to nearly 12,000, with the vast majority of deaths linked to the extreme heatwave at the end of June.
The institute pointed out that during just one week from June 22 to 28, temperatures in many parts of Germany soared to around 40 degrees Celsius, leading to approximately 9,600 deaths that week, significantly higher than the previously reported over 5,000 deaths.
The revised data shows that from April 6 to July 26, the total number of heatwave-related deaths in Germany was around 11,900, surpassing the historical record of about 9,000 deaths in 2018.
According to the institute, this revised data is based on more comprehensive death data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany and recalculated using temperature data from 52 meteorological stations of the German Weather Service, as the death data from the Federal Statistical Office is typically published with a delay of five weeks.
The institute stated that the elderly remain the primary affected group, with those aged 85 and above being the most severely affected.
Climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heatwaves hitting Europe, making it the continent with the fastest rising global temperatures. Health departments across countries have issued multiple heat alerts. High temperatures in Europe are expected to rise further next week.
Weather forecasts indicate that London is forecasted to reach a high of 93 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 34 degrees Celsius) on August 12, while Paris may soar to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 38 degrees Celsius).
Persistent high temperatures combined with muggy nights and humid weather pose risks of dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, and even heatstroke deaths for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and chronic illness patients.