Nearly 10,000 People Die from Heatwave Effects in Germany
According to the Robert Koch Institute, almost 10,000 people have died from heat-related causes in Germany this year, the highest number since 2016. Over 5,000 deaths occurred during a late June heatwave when temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) estimates that nearly 10,000 people have died in Germany this year due to the effects of heat. As of July 19, the institute's weekly report shows 9,800 heat-related deaths, surpassing any single year since 2016. The previous highest toll was in 2018, with about 9,000 deaths.
Most of the fatalities—over 5,000—occurred during the second half of June, when a heatwave pushed temperatures to 40°C in many regions. Between early April and July 12, 7,900 heat deaths were recorded, with an additional 1,900 in the week from July 13 to 19. The RKI analysis, based on data from 52 weather stations of the German Meteorological Service, indicates that mortality rates are significantly higher during weeks with average temperatures above 20°C compared to cooler summer weeks.
Other European countries have also reported heat-related fatalities. Belgium's Sciensano public health institute reported 2,000 deaths during the June heatwave and early July, representing an excess mortality of 48%. In France, nearly 5,800 deaths have been linked to the record June heat.
