A record-breaking heatwave that swept across Europe in late June 2026 resulted in more than 10,000 excess deaths, according to data from the EuroMOMO mortality monitoring system, as reported by Reuters.

Over 9,000 of the deceased were aged 65 or older. Dr. Lasse Vestergaard, chief physician at the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark, which coordinates EuroMOMO, said the spike in deaths was unusual for this time of year.

“It is difficult to explain such a high level of excess deaths by anything other than extreme heat,” he said.

The statistics cover 27 European countries for the week of June 22–28 and include all deaths regardless of cause. Researchers noted that no other known factors were observed that could have caused such a sharp increase.

EuroMOMO did not provide country-specific data but noted that France and Belgium were the only countries in Europe with “very high” excess mortality in the last week of June.

According to Belgium’s Sciensano public health institute, the excess death rate in Belgium was the highest recorded during heatwaves since 2000.

Earlier, the Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that June 2026 was the hottest June on record for Western Europe. Monthly temperatures in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg were 3–5°C above average.

Source: www.gazeta.uz