גל חום שיא קשור לאלפי מיתות עודפות ברחבי אירופה

Monday 13 July 2026 - 07:50

גל חום שיא ש swept across Western Europe in late June has been linked to a sharp rise in mortality, highlighting the growing human cost of extreme weather associated with climate change.

According to official mortality monitoring data, more than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across Europe during a single week as exceptionally high temperatures affected several countries. Older adults, particularly those aged 65 and above, accounted for the vast majority of the additional fatalities, reflecting their increased vulnerability to heat-related illnesses and the worsening of existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.

Health experts noted that the sudden increase in deaths was highly unusual for this time of year and said there were no other major public health events capable of explaining such a significant rise. While mortality figures may be revised as more data become available, specialists believe the extreme weather played a central role in the increase.

The heatwave affected several countries, including France, Spain, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, where record temperatures disrupted daily life. Authorities reported power supply issues, school closures, transportation disruptions, and increased pressure on healthcare systems as emergency services responded to heat-related incidents.

Belgium experienced one of its highest levels of excess mortality during a heatwave since national records began, while researchers in the United Kingdom estimated that thousands of deaths in England and Wales during May and June were associated with prolonged periods of extreme heat.

Climate scientists argue that human-induced global warming has made heatwaves more frequent, longer-lasting, and more intense. Recent research suggests that many of the extreme temperature events experienced across Europe would have been far less likely without the influence of climate change.

Public health authorities continue to urge governments to strengthen heat adaptation measures, improve early warning systems, and protect vulnerable populations as extreme weather events become increasingly common. Experts also stress that reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains essential to limiting the long-term impacts of climate change on human health and society.