Europe’s early summer heatwave may have caused more than 1,300 extra deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the deaths have been linked to extreme temperatures since June 21, calling heat stress a “silent killer.”
Several countries set new temperature records on Sunday. Germany reached a record 41.7 C, while Poland hit 40.5 C and the Czech Republic recorded 41.1 C.
The WHO says Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average because of climate change, making extreme heatwaves more common. Tedros urged countries to improve heat safety plans to protect people, especially older adults.
The heat has forced governments to take emergency measures. Events have been cancelled, public restrictions introduced, and health officials have warned people to stay safe. Experts say the heatwave has been made worse by a “heat dome,” a weather pattern that traps hot air and keeps temperatures dangerously high.
