Heat Killed a 'Staggering' 50,000 People in Europe's Cities This Summer, Scientists Say

Photo: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
Europe just lived through its deadliest summer on record — and scientists say most of the victims were killed by human-caused climate change. Two studies published this week in the journal Nature Health estimate that 50,391 people died from heat across 854 European cities between June and August 2026.
That toll is 71% higher than the previous record of 29,480 deaths set in the summer of 2022. About two-thirds of this year's deaths — 32,619 people — are attributed directly to the extra heat caused by burning coal, oil and gas, according to researchers at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Italy suffered the worst toll with 13,303 deaths, followed by France (7,268), Spain (6,824), Germany (6,340) and the UK (4,354).
The deadliest stretch ran from June 17 to July 1, when temperatures in parts of Europe ran 5.3°C above normal. Lead author Clair Barnes warned that Europe, the fastest-warming continent, is now 2.5°C hotter than in pre-industrial times. More than half of the victims were aged 85 or older, but the heat also killed over 800 people between the ages of 20 and 44.
Source: The Guardian / AP — read more
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