Heatwave in Europe caused 2,300 deaths in 10 days, study finds

Heatwave in Europe caused 2,300 deaths in 10 days, study finds
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A recent study has found that a severe heatwave across 12 European cities caused approximately 2,300 heat-related deaths over a 10-day period from June 23 to July 2, 2025, Al Jazeera reported. The heatwave affected major cities including Barcelona, Madrid, London, and Milan, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in parts of Spain and triggering wildfires in France.

Researchers from five European institutions in the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland determined that human-caused climate change raised temperatures during the heatwave by up to 4°C (39.2°F). Of the estimated deaths, around 1,500 were directly linked to climate change, which intensified the severity of the heatwave.

Using epidemiological models and historical mortality data, the study assessed deaths where heat was the underlying cause or worsened existing health conditions. Scientists compared the heatwave’s intensity to a hypothetical scenario without the warming effects of fossil fuel emissions.

Ben Clarke, a researcher at Imperial College London, emphasized that climate change made the heatwave significantly hotter and more dangerous. This study highlights the growing risks of extreme heat events as global temperatures continue to rise due to human activity.