Over 62,000 Die in Europe’s 2024 Heatwave as Southern Nations Bear the Brunt

The study estimates that 62,775 people died from heat-related causes between 1 June and 30 September 2024, marking a 23.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. Data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Service also confirmed that the summer of 2024 was the hottest ever recorded in Europe.

Conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), the research analyzed 654 regions across 32 countries and found that over 181,000 deaths were linked to extreme heat between 2022 and 2024.

However, experts suggest the real number could be even higher. Chris Hocknell, a sustainability consultant based in London, noted that heat-related deaths are often underreported because heat typically worsens existing health conditions rather than being listed as the direct cause.

He explained that, much like during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be difficult to determine whether heat was the primary cause of death or a contributing factor. Nevertheless, mortality rates clearly rise during extreme temperature events, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Italy recorded the highest number of deaths, with more than 19,000 fatalities during the four-month period. The country’s intense heat—reaching around 40°C in cities such as Rome and Palermo—combined with its aging population, contributed significantly to the high toll.

Among people aged over 75, mortality rates were found to be 323 percent higher than in other age groups. Women were also disproportionately affected, with heat-related deaths nearly 47 percent higher than among men.

Spain followed Italy with 6,743 deaths, while Germany recorded 6,282. Greece reported 5,980 deaths, and Romania 4,943. Other heavily affected countries included Bulgaria, Serbia, France, Poland, and Hungary.

When adjusted for population size, Greece experienced the highest mortality rate, with 574 deaths per million people. Bulgaria and Serbia followed with 530 and 379 deaths per million, respectively. These figures represent a sharp increase compared to previous years, highlighting the growing severity of heatwaves.

Researchers emphasize that Europe is warming faster than any other continent, with temperatures rising at roughly twice the global average. Within the region, the Mediterranean basin and southeastern Europe are emerging as climate hotspots, facing particularly severe health risks and a projected rise in heat-related mortality throughout the century.

The findings come after another summer marked by extreme conditions, including widespread wildfires, disruptions to tourism, and multiple heat-related fatalities.

Individual cases underscore the human cost of these events. In Barcelona, a 51-year-old street cleaner died after working long hours outdoors during a heat alert, while in Italy, a construction worker collapsed and died amid high temperatures.

Scientists increasingly link such fatalities to climate change. A rapid analysis by researchers from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that climate change contributed to approximately 68 percent of heat-related deaths in the summer of 2025, raising temperatures by as much as 3.6°C.

During a single heatwave between 21 and 27 July, around 950 deaths were recorded in countries including Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Cyprus, where temperatures reached up to 6°C above average.

Experts warn that heatwaves remain underestimated despite being among the deadliest natural hazards. To reduce future death tolls, specialists stress the need for improved infrastructure, particularly in southern Europe, including better building design to manage extreme heat.

They also point out that access to air conditioning remains limited across Europe, with only about 20 percent of households equipped, compared to nearly 90 percent in the United States.