Overview
- German federal health authorities reported that since the start of 2026 more than 5,000 people have died in heat-related cases, with roughly 4,270 of those aged 75 or older.
- Women made up the majority of heat victims in Germany because they are a larger share of the older population.
- The main rise in deaths happened at the end of June when weekly average temperatures climbed above 20°C, according to national reports.
- Copernicus recorded June 2026 as the hottest on record for Western Europe with a mean of 20.74°C, and specialists estimate more than 4,700 heat deaths in France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands between June 20 and June 28.
- The WMO and climate scientists link the extreme heat to a record-strong El Niño combined with ongoing warming, and forecasters warn continued high temperatures, wildfires and strain on health, emergency and infrastructure systems that will especially endanger older people.