Spain and Germany: record heat-related mortality in summer 2026
In Spain, 5,140 people died from heat over four months; in Germany, 15,800 died over the summer. Europe-wide data, covering only part of the continent, already show at least 35,000 excess deaths. The elderly are the at-risk group.
Sources
· 6В Испании за четыре месяца от жары погибли 5140 человек
1В Германии за лето 2026 года от жары погибли 15 800 человек
2В Европе из-за жары этим летом погибли не менее 35 тысяч человек
3Жара в Европе могла стать причиной более 12 тыс. смертей за неделю
4В Германии в 2026 году от жары умерли около 12 500 человек, сообщает RKI
5Всемирная метеорологическая организация сообщила об учащении и усилении жары
6Key points
- In Spain, 5,140 people died from extreme heat over four months, with most deaths occurring in August.
- In Germany, 15,800 people died from heat in the summer of 2026 — the highest figure since 1992.
- Data covering about half of Europe show at least 35,000 excess deaths this summer.
- Germany, France, and Spain account for more than 25,000 excess deaths.
What happened
In Spain, 5,140 people died from heat over the past four months — one of the highest figures on record. Most deaths occurred in August. In several regions of Spain, temperatures remain around +40°C. In Germany, 15,800 people died from heat in the summer of 2026, the highest figure since 1992. The rise in deaths followed two sharp heat waves — in late June and from late July to mid-August.
Why it matters
The World Meteorological Organization reported that periods of extreme heat are becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged as the climate warms. Parts of Europe are already experiencing their fifth heat wave of the summer; the summer has been marked by drought, wildfires, and record temperatures. The current heat in Europe reflects the interaction of a persistent high-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere and a warmer climate, and this year's El Niño is not influencing it.
What changed
An earlier AFP analysis of official data from Belgium, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland found more than 12,000 excess deaths in the week of June 22–28. The deadliest period in the earlier assessment was week 26, June 22–29, when about 9,600 people died.
Who's affected
In Spain, the at-risk group is people over 65, predominantly women. In Germany, about 12,000 of those who died were over 75 years old.
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- В Испании за четыре месяца от жары погибли 5140 человек24.kz · 6h ago
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- В Европе из-за жары этим летом погибли не менее 35 тысяч человекRepost · 6d ago