Extreme Heat Takes Toll Across Europe, More Than 25,000 Victims This Year in Germany, France, Spain and Italy

Since the beginning of 2026, heatwaves have claimed the lives of more than 25,000 people in the four largest countries of the European Union. Temperatures in Germany, France, Italy and Spain have repeatedly exceeded 35 degrees Celsius, placing national healthcare systems under strain and keeping health alerts active.

The heaviest toll has been recorded in Germany. Data from the Robert Koch Institute show that around 14,000 deaths in 2026 were directly linked to extreme heat. This is the highest annual level recorded in the country since 2016.

The situation is also extremely serious in France. During this year’s severe heat episodes, Santé Publique France recorded more than 7,300 additional deaths. Because of the major impact on the population, health authorities remain on alert.

In Spain, nearly 4,500 deaths linked to high temperatures were reported between June 1 and August 19. The Carlos III Health Institute and the MoMo Mortality Monitoring System say this is the highest toll for the same period since 2022. Although the monitoring does not establish direct causation in every individual case, it is considered the most reliable estimate of deaths in which temperatures played a decisive role.

Italy has not yet published a unified official toll, as data are collected mainly through real-time indicators. In June, mortality among people over 65 rose by 3%. Maria Rosaria Campitello, head of the Prevention Department at the Italian Ministry of Health, said the information is based on current data from municipalities and that no extreme spikes were identified by the end of June.

Scientific forecasts for the coming months, however, remain pessimistic. Speaking to Ansa and Euractiv, epidemiologist Fabrizio Preliasco, director of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine at the University of Milan, estimated that Italy could record between 5,000 and 8,000 heat-related deaths by the end of the summer.

If the current climate pattern continues, the mortality rate could be 10% to 20% higher than in the summer of 2025. This increase would translate into an additional 1,500 to 3,000 victims.

The coming period is considered crucial. Historically, August and September have been the months with the greatest risk from the effects of high temperatures, while authorities warn that the final death toll is expected to rise further.