PARIS, France/BRUSSELS, Belgium: Excess deaths from the heatwave were estimated at 10,650 across 27 countries and regions during June 22–28, with more than 9,000 among people aged 65 or older.
The estimate was based on data from the European Mortality Monitoring network, known as EuroMOMO. Its latest bulletin showed an increase in all-cause mortality around epidemiological week 26, particularly among people aged 45 and older.
EuroMOMO receives official mortality statistics from participating countries and regions. The system is supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organisation.
France and Belgium recorded “very high” excess mortality during the period, according to the supplied report. Belgium recorded its highest heatwave-related mortality since monitoring began in 2000.
European countries reported more than 10,000 excess deaths during the record-breaking heatwave that hit western Europe in late June, data showed. Scientists said the temperatures would have been ‘virtually impossible’ without human-caused climate change https://t.co/5l8A66aunu pic.twitter.com/I2CP01O5aP
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 13, 2026Excess mortality measures deaths above the expected baseline and does not establish heat as the medical cause of every death. However, the report said that no comparable increase in COVID-19 infections or any other major factor explained the weekly rise.
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World Weather Attribution found that Western Europe’s June heatwave was the most severe recorded in its study area. Comparable temperatures would have been virtually impossible during June under the climate conditions of 1976, the researchers said.
The World Meteorological Organisation said June 2026 was Western Europe’s hottest June on record and the world’s second-warmest June, according to Copernicus Climate Change Service data.
A separate analysis estimated that heatwaves caused more than 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales during May and June, with about 42% of those deaths attributed to human-caused warming.
