A prolonged heatwave that scorched Europe from late June has been linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths across the continent, according to the World Health Organization. Spain alone recorded 1,028 heat-attributed fatalities during the month, its highest June toll since monitoring began, while French public health officials provisionally estimate around 1,000 additional deaths tied to the extreme temperatures. The figures, drawn from statistical excess-mortality models rather than individual cause-of-death certification, remain subject to revision.

Spanish health authorities said the 1,028 deaths reported by the Carlos III Health Institute were more than double the 407 recorded in June 2025, the previous hottest June. Nearly all victims were aged 65 or older, with 720 aged 85 and above. The highest regional tolls were in Catalonia and the Basque Country, areas less accustomed to sustained extreme heat than the country’s south. In France, Santé publique France noted that the majority of excess deaths occurred among the elderly, with a 40 per cent rise in fatalities inside homes.

Meteorologists attributed the event to an “omega block” — a stagnant high-pressure system that trapped hot, dry air from North Africa and prevented cooler Atlantic fronts from moving in. The World Weather Attribution group of scientists said the heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” in June without climate change. All-time temperature records were broken in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, while the UK and Switzerland recorded their hottest June days. Satellite data from the European Space Agency showed land-surface temperatures reaching 55°C in parts of central Spain and western France.

European health systems came under strain as buildings designed to retain winter warmth amplified indoor heat. The WHO warned that heat stress acts as a “silent killer”, particularly for the elderly, young children and those with chronic illnesses. While the most intense phase of the heatwave has passed, Spanish meteorological agency AEMET cautioned that a new mass of very hot air is expected to move across the country in the coming days. The final death toll, officials say, will not be known until comprehensive mortality analyses are completed in the months ahead.