The record heatwave that hit Western Europe last month killed thousands, making it one of the deadliest climate disasters on the continent, according to Politico magazine.

Preliminary official mortality data and researcher estimates from the six most affected countries indicate at least 14,000 excess deaths during the extreme heat period, according to an analysis by the European edition of the magazine.

The heatwave, which started around June 18 and lasted until July 1, broke records in many countries. Scientists have found that these exceptional temperatures would have been nearly impossible without human-induced climate change caused by burning fossil fuels.

The figures analyzed by Politico include about 2,000 deaths in France, 1,740 in Belgium, 6,800 in Germany, 480 in the Netherlands, plus 810 heat-related deaths specifically in Spain, and an estimated 2,200 deaths in Britain.

A separate dataset published Monday by the EuroMOMO mortality monitoring service, supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization, showed that the 27 member states reported 10,650 excess deaths between June 22 and 28. These figures are still subject to change as more data comes in.

Rising Deaths

Excess deaths represent the increase in mortality compared to average levels. Although these numbers include deaths from all causes, this measure is used for a quick assessment of heatwave impact, as obtaining an accurate count of heat-related deaths is laborious, because high temperatures kill not only through heatstroke but also by exacerbating pre-existing medical conditions.

Lasse Skafte Vestergaard, chief physician at the Danish Statens Serum Institute, which hosts the EuroMOMO service, said of the data: 'It is very likely that these figures are primarily heat-related.'

He added in a statement to Politico: 'There are no other clear explanations or other public health threats in Europe currently that could explain this,' saying that 'the numbers are truly unusual in terms of their magnitude.'

EuroMOMO figures do not include a country-level breakdown, although the service noted that excess deaths were particularly high in France and Belgium in late June.

However, many of the hardest-hit Western European countries published preliminary excess death data in recent days, while scientists in other countries made initial estimates of the toll.

France

In France, where temperatures exceeded 40°C, the public health agency reported in early July that the country recorded 2,025 excess deaths from June 22 to 28, a 29% increase from the previous week. Most of these additional deaths occurred among people aged 45 or older.

The Île-de-France region, which includes Paris, saw a particularly large jump in deaths that week, with 619 excess deaths recorded, an increase of 62.8%. The health agency cautioned that this figure may be an undercount.

Belgium

In Belgium, the Sciensano public health institute announced Wednesday that 1,747 excess deaths were recorded between June 18 and July 1. The French-speaking region of Wallonia was the hardest hit, with 919 additional deaths, an increase of 76%.

Although the elderly are most at risk of death during heatwaves, Sciensano noted that 280 excess deaths occurred in people under 65, adding that this heatwave is the deadliest in Belgium since record-keeping began in 2000.

Germany

Germany recorded 6,800 excess deaths during the week of June 22 to 28, according to the Federal Statistical Office.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country's national public health body, has also developed a model to estimate heat-related deaths, and estimated last week that 5,100 deaths could be attributed to high temperatures so far in 2026, with the vast majority occurring during the June heatwave. It added that these figures may be an undercount.

Spain

Between June 18 and 30, Spain recorded 812 excess deaths directly attributable to heat-related causes, according to the monitoring system of the Carlos III Health Institute, a national public research body.

While Spain experienced an exceptional heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in some areas, a larger proportion of Spanish homes are equipped with air conditioning, about 40% compared to the European average of 20%.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the National Institute for Public Health recorded 480 excess deaths during the week of June 22 to 28, but warned that the full picture will only become clear after additional data is available in a few weeks.

The institute noted that most deaths were among people over 80 years old.

Britain

Scientists in Britain estimated Monday that 2,200 people died from heat-related causes in England and Wales between June 18 and 28.

During May and June, 2,700 people are believed to have died as a result of high temperatures, according to researchers including scientists from Imperial College London, the UK Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

They also calculated that 42% of these deaths are attributable to the high temperatures caused by climate change.

Commenting on the findings, British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 'These record heatwaves show once again that the climate crisis is not a future threat.'