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Europe Heat Wave Linked to More Than 1,300 Deaths as Temperature Records Fall

The World Health Organization says the surge exposes how hospitals, power systems and buildings are failing to protect older and medically fragile people from extreme heat.

Overview

  • The WHO reported on Sunday that more than 1,300 excess deaths in Europe have been linked to the heat wave since June 21.
  • National meteorological services recorded new highs this weekend, including 41.7°C in Germany (Coschen/Drewitz), 41.1°C in Czechia (Doksany) and 40.5°C in Poland.
  • German authorities said two men died while bathing in Berlin and a person was reported missing in the Elbe, and Hamburg firefighters warned that the river is unsafe for swimming.
  • Agence France-Presse projections and WHO statements show tens to hundreds of millions exposed to extreme heat, with AFP estimating about 191 million people facing at least 35°C on Sunday and WHO noting roughly 150 million under extreme heat.
  • Health services report sustained hospital pressure, schools have closed and electricity networks are strained, raising the risk of a larger, delayed death toll and further service disruptions in the coming days.