EuroMOMO recorded 10,650 excess deaths across 27 European countries during the week of June 22 to June 28, 2026, marking a spike in mortality driven by an extreme heatwave that swept across the continent. More than 9,000 of those deaths occurred among people aged 65 and older, underscoring the vulnerability of elderly populations to extreme temperatures.

The EuroMOMO network, which pools national mortality statistics from 27 European countries, is backed by the European center for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization and is hosted by Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut. Scientists stated there were no other known major factors, such as COVID-19 outbreaks, that contributed to the mortality surge during that week, pointing squarely to the heatwave as the primary cause.

“It is difficult to explain this high excess mortality by anything but the extreme heat,” said Lasse Vestergaard, Chief Physician at Denmark's Statens Serum Institut. He added, “To have this kind of excess at this time of year is unusual. It’s really high.” The total of 10,650 excess deaths stands in stark contrast to mortality trends in the preceding eight weeks, during which combined deaths across the same countries averaged about 500 per week below typical levels.

France and Belgium were the only two countries in Europe to log “very high excess” mortality during the last week of June 2026, according to EuroMOMO. Belgium’s excess mortality during this heatwave was the highest recorded during any heatwave since 2000, according to Sciensano, the country’s public health institute. France recorded more than 2,000 excess deaths during the same period, according to official figures.

Temperatures across Western Europe reached unprecedented levels in late June 2026. In England, the UK Met Office reported a high of 37.7°C (99.9°F) at Lingwood, Norfolk, exceeding the previous June record of 35.6°C (96°F) set in 1957. In Germany, some areas saw temperatures climb to 41.7°C (107.1°F), and a thermometer at the UNFCCC headquarters in Bonn showed 41°C on June 27, 2026. A rare red heat alert was issued for parts of England and Wales in response to the extreme conditions.

Scientists stated that human-induced climate change added between 3 and 4°C to the maximum temperatures recorded in the UK during May and June 2026. Mark McCarthy, science manager at the Met’s climate attribution team, said, “They were extreme heatwaves for the UK, and for all parts of Western Europe, and they’re particularly exceptional for the timing and how early in the year they occurred.” Scientists also stated the late-June 2026 heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change.

Earlier in the year, the UK had already experienced record-breaking heat. On May 26, 2026, temperatures reached 35.1°C at Kew Gardens, surpassing the previous UK May high of 32.8°C set in 1922 and matched in 1944. These extreme conditions prompted public health warnings and emergency measures. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported in 2025 that roughly half of the 3,039 predicted heat-related deaths that year occurred in the UK.

Clair Barnes, an expert in extreme weather and climate change at Imperial College London, emphasized the human toll of such events. “These are big numbers and we don’t want to see this many people dying,” she said. Barnes added, “If by putting out these estimates we highlight to people how dangerous it is and they change their behaviour next time there is a heatwave and our estimates turn out to be high, I will be thrilled.”

France’s response to the prolonged heat included widespread public safety measures. On July 12, 2026, 24 of France’s departments—home to 22.2 million people—were placed under the maximum alert level issued by Météo-France, the country’s national weather service. Many towns subsequently canceled firework displays scheduled for Bastille Day on July 14 due to the heightened risk of wildfires.

Long-term concerns about heat resilience persist. A May 2026 UKHSA report estimated that 92 percent of British homes could be too hot by 2050. Lea Berrang Ford, who works at UKHSA’s center for Climate and Health Security, has been involved in assessing these risks. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) had already warned in 2025 that the UK was “not ready” to deal with the consequences of climate change.

The late-June 2026 heatwave and its associated mortality spike illustrate the escalating public health threat posed by climate-driven extreme heat in Europe. With more than 10,000 excess deaths in a single week—disproportionately affecting older adults—and record temperatures across multiple countries, the event highlights systemic vulnerabilities in housing, health infrastructure, and emergency preparedness. Scientists directly link the intensity of the heatwave to human-caused climate change, reinforcing urgent calls for adaptation measures. The EuroMOMO data could be revised in future weeks as more national statistics become available, but the preliminary figures already signal one of the deadliest heat events in recent European history.