A large majority of heat-related deaths in RKI's statistics for 2026, 9,600 people, occurred at the end of June, when temperatures above 40 degrees were recorded in Germany.
For Europe, the heat waves thus look set to cost tens of thousands of lives this summer. However, countries are counting in different ways. In France, the Santé publique authority reported this week excess mortality of 7,300 people so far this summer, also with a peak there at the end of June. However, this is excess mortality in general, not necessarily due to the weather.
Scientists have concluded that the widespread and prolonged heat would not be possible without the climate changes triggered by humans.
