June heatwave may have killed around 20k people in Europe
A June heatwave in Europe is estimated to have caused around 20,000 excess deaths, according to a new analysis. The study highlights the ongoing deadly impact of extreme heat linked to climate change across the continent.
Background
- A study estimates that extreme heat in June 2025 (when temperatures broke records in several European countries) may have caused around 20,000 excess deaths across the continent. "Excess deaths" means the number of fatalities above what would normally be expected for that period.<br>
- Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, and its population is relatively old and urban — both factors that make heatwaves especially deadly. Unlike the US, many European homes lack air conditioning.<br>
- The study comes amid growing research on "heat mortality" — quantifying how many lives are lost to high temperatures — and renewed debate about whether European governments are doing enough to adapt (e.g., early warning systems, cool public spaces, building codes).