A severe heatwave that pushed temperatures above 41 degrees Celsius in parts of Germany has been linked to roughly 7,100 additional deaths in the last week of June, with mortality rising 32 percent above previous years' baseline. The Robert Koch Institute attributed at least 5,100 deaths in June directly to heat, while drowning deaths reached their highest June total in over two decades.
The toll extended beyond Germany, with the late-June heatwave associated with more than 10,000 excess deaths across western Europe, predominantly among those aged over 65.
A survey conducted from 22 June to 1 July found roughly one in three Germans experienced heat-related health problems, most commonly fatigue, sleep disturbances, and circulatory issues. Women reported feeling significantly more burdened than men, and three-quarters of respondents deemed current heat-protection measures insufficient.