Belgium recorded Europe’s highest excess mortality during the late June heatwave, with Sciensano reporting approximately 2,000 additional deaths above the long-term average, an increase of 48 percent. The surge in fatalities occurred as a heatwave swept across much of western and central Europe between June 20 and 28, 2026, in what scientists described as the most intense extreme temperature event ever recorded on the continent.
Neighboring countries also saw significant mortality increases, with excess deaths of 23 percent in France and 13 percent in the Netherlands. France recorded at least 5,764 excess deaths, 36 percent above expected levels. Across western Europe, the late June heatwave caused more than 10,000 excess deaths, over 9,000 of them among people aged 65 and older. June 2026 was the warmest on record in the region, averaging 20.74°C.
The heat could reduce European cereal harvest values by an estimated 2 billion euros. Belgium faces another hot spell this week, with temperatures expected above 35°C.