At least 12,000 excess deaths were recorded across Europe during the peak of June's exceptional heatwave, according to a new analysis of national health data, confirming a far wider toll than previously estimated.
Between 22 and 28 June, approximately 10,000 excess deaths were logged by national health institutes in seven countries — Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg. In England and Wales, an estimated 2,200 heat-related deaths were recorded between 18 and 28 June, the Met Office estimated. EuroMOMO data indicated more than 14,000 excess deaths across 24 European countries in the final week of June alone.
Germany bore a heavy share, with 5,780 additional deaths in the final week of June compared with the four-year average. The Copernicus Climate Change Service has since confirmed June as western Europe's hottest on record, and the second hottest globally.