BERLIN, Germany — France recorded around 1,000 additional deaths during the peak of last week’s record-breaking heat wave, the country’s public health agency said Sunday, as extreme temperatures continued to affect large parts of Europe and prompted renewed warnings about the continent’s growing vulnerability to climate change.
The announcement came as several European countries registered new temperature records, emergency services responded to heat-related incidents, and infrastructure faced increasing disruption. The World Health Organization (WHO) also warned that Europe remains the world’s fastest-warming continent and urged governments to strengthen measures to protect public health.
France Reports Sharp Rise in Heat-Related Mortality
Public Health France said daily deaths climbed sharply during the hottest period of the heat wave, with more than 1,200 deaths recorded on Wednesday and more than 1,400 deaths on each of the following two days.
Before the heat wave, the country had recorded roughly 900 to 1,000 deaths per day during April and May.
The agency estimated that at least 1,000 excess deaths occurred over the three-day period alone, while cautioning that the figure is preliminary and could rise as additional data, including deaths that occurred at private homes, becomes available.
According to the agency, the increase was most significant in regions placed under the country’s highest-level red heat alert, which covered approximately three-quarters of France at the height of the extreme temperatures. It also said that 85% of those who died were aged 65 or older.
WHO Warns Europe Faces Escalating Heat Risks
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that Europe is warming at twice the global average, leaving millions of people exposed to dangerous heat conditions.
Tedros said more than 150 million people were living under extreme heat and that over 1,300 excess deaths linked to high temperatures had been recorded across Europe since June 21. He described heat stress as a “silent killer” and said many homes, schools, and workplaces across the region were not designed for prolonged extreme temperatures.
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He called on European governments to strengthen preparedness, prevention, and health system responses as heat waves become increasingly frequent.
Study Links Record Heat to Climate Change
A rapid analysis released Friday by World Weather Attribution concluded that the exceptional heat and humidity experienced across Europe during the past week would not have occurred without climate change.
The research group said such conditions would have been virtually impossible five decades ago and estimated they are now about 200 times more likely than they were 20 years ago.
Temperature Records Broken Across Europe
Several countries continued to register record temperatures over the weekend.
Germany reached 41.7 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) in Neißemünde near the Polish border, marking a new national record for the third consecutive day.
Poland recorded a new all-time high of 40.5 C (104.9 F), while the Czech Republic reached 41.9 C (107.4 F), surpassing the previous national record set a day earlier.
The heat wave gradually shifted toward eastern Europe as temperatures remained exceptionally high across much of the continent.
Storms, Wildfires, and Infrastructure Disruptions
As the extreme heat persisted, several countries also experienced severe thunderstorms and other weather-related emergencies.
In Sweden, lightning struck the Tosselilla Sommarland amusement park in Tomelilla, injuring several people. Three adults were hospitalized, including one woman with serious injuries, according to TT News Agency.
Denmark recorded 1,156 lightning strikes by Sunday morning following its own record temperatures, public broadcaster DR reported.
In Germany, firefighters battled multiple forest fires in areas contaminated by unexploded World War II ammunition, complicating emergency operations. Authorities evacuated around 650 residents from the village of Traisen after explosions forced firefighting crews to suspend work temporarily while ordnance specialists assessed the area.
Heat Puts Pressure on Public Services
Emergency responders across Germany also reported a rise in heat-related medical incidents.
Berlin recorded an additional 500 ambulance dispatches on Saturday, most linked to heat-related illnesses. Police in the capital used water cannons near the Brandenburg Gate to spray cooling water over residents and tourists seeking relief from the extreme temperatures.
The heat also disrupted transportation networks. Deutsche Bahn advised travelers to avoid unnecessary train journeys after high temperatures damaged infrastructure.
More than 600 passengers were evacuated from a train in Brandenburg after it lost power when a storm brought down an overhead power line. Air conditioning stopped working while passengers remained inside until emergency responders forced open the doors. Two people were hospitalized with heat-related illnesses, according to German news agency dpa.
In Leipzig, local transport authorities suspended tram services until early Monday after extreme heat damaged tracks and switches across the city’s network.
Forecasters said the heat wave was gradually moving eastward, but public health authorities continue to warn that elevated temperatures remain a significant risk for vulnerable populations across Europe.
Tags: France, Europe, Heat Wave, Climate Change, World Health Organization, Public Health France, Germany, Extreme Weather, Wildfires, Public Health, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Infrastructure
