More than 50,000 people across European cities are estimated to have died from heat-related causes this summer, making 2026 potentially the continent’s deadliest year for extreme heat, according to research published in Nature Health.
The analysis estimated that climate change contributed to more than 32,600 deaths, linking the increased risk to fossil fuel pollution.
Western Europe experienced its hottest summer on record, with temperatures averaging 2.9 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 baseline.
Southern and western regions were particularly affected, although cooler northern countries also recorded substantial fatalities. People aged 85 and older faced the highest death rates, but younger adults were also among the victims.
Researchers cautioned that the figures are model-based estimates with uncertainties. However, a European mortality monitoring expert said they broadly aligned with other reported estimates.
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Summer 2026 was Europe's deadliest on record: Over 50,000 people died in urban areas - with climate change responsible for two thirds of deaths, study estimates https://t.co/2BxYGZl4pO
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) October 22, 2026
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