Heat killed 50,000 people in European cities this summer, study finds

Heat-related conditions killed a record 50,000 people across European cities this summer, according to new research that attributes two out of every three deaths to climate breakdown. Scientists found that between June and August, planet-baking pollution and rising temperatures resulted in an additional 32,000 lives being cut short in urban areas. The study, which modelled historical relationships between heat and health in 854 cities, described the toll as the worst on record. Researchers noted that hot days pushed vulnerable bodies into overdrive while warm nights prevented necessary recovery.

According to the study co-authored by Malcolm Mistry, a climate and health scientist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the proportion of deaths attributed to anthropogenic climate change has risen significantly. This share increased from approximately 40% at the start of the century to 65% this summer. The highest rates of heat-related mortality were recorded in Malta, Italy, and Hungary. However, the greatest absolute death tolls occurred in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In the UK specifically, scientists estimated that heat caused 4,354 deaths during the summer period.

Naples was identified as the hardest-hit city on the continent, with an age-standardised estimate of 815 deaths per million people. Mario Guarino, an emergency doctor at Ospedale CTO in Naples, reported a 15% increase in emergency room visits during the peak heatwaves. He noted that the complexity of health problems was exacerbated by social factors such as loneliness and poverty. One instance involved a terminal cancer patient in a hot attic whose family could not secure air conditioning installation, while another involved an elderly man with dementia found injured after his caregiver returned to Ukraine.

The research, which utilized temperature data from 2026, found that people over the age of 85 accounted for nearly half of the total death toll. However, the impact extended to younger populations, with 833 deaths estimated among those aged 20 to 44. Greenhouse gases have caused Europe to warm at roughly twice the global average, leading to more frequent periods of "very strong" heat stress exceeding 38C. While David García-García of the Carlos III health institute in Madrid noted the study uses epidemiological models rather than actual summer 2026 death certificates, doctors continue to urge governments to reduce fossil fuel use and bolster urban health systems.

What to watch: Whether European governments implement the recommended city-greening and cooling measures ahead of the 2027 summer season.

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