Heat in Europe has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 people

In France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, 3,700 excess deaths were recorded during the June heatwave.

This was reported by Reuters, citing data from authorities and scientists.

Experts note that the abnormal heat lasted approximately from June 20 to 28 and was the most intense ever recorded in Europe.

In France, 2,025 excess deaths were recorded, announced the country's Health Minister Stéphanie Rist. Mortality increased particularly among people over 45 years of age. The number of deaths at home rose by 91% between June 22 and 28, and mortality also increased in nursing homes and medical facilities. Authorities warned that the final figures could be higher.

In Belgium, according to the Health Ministry, approximately 1,200 excess deaths were recorded between June 18 and 29. Of these, 530 were among people over 85 years old, and 180 among people under 65. The Health Ministry called the situation "unprecedented."

In the Netherlands, the heat led to approximately 480 excess deaths, mainly among people over 80 years old, the agency reports.

The extreme heat, according to scientists surveyed by the agency, was caused by climate change. It led to disruptions in energy supply, infrastructure damage, and overburdening of healthcare systems.

The anomaly emerged as early as late spring 2026, when temperatures 10–15 degrees above the climate norm settled across a vast area of Europe. For example, in southern England, on May 24, the thermometer rose to nearly 35 degrees, and after sunset a so-called tropical night set in, when the air did not cool below 20 degrees.

In June, Politico reported that at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, the air conditioning system on the lower floors of the Berlaymont building was shut down due to the heat. Meanwhile, on the upper floors of the 13-story building, where the offices of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commissioners are located, the air conditioning continued to operate.