Thousands of deaths across Europe, predominantly in France, Spain, and Belgium, have been linked to a severe heatwave in June 2026. According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, last month was the hottest June ever recorded in Western Europe, with temperatures exceeding the 1991-2020 average by more than three degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
The climate monitoring service reported that the average temperature in Western Europe reached 20.74°C (69.33°F), driven by a heatwave in the latter half of June that broke records in several countries. Additionally, the month was 1.39°C (2.5°F) warmer than the estimated pre-industrial June average from 1850-1900.
The average sea surface temperature outside polar regions also hit a record high for June at 20.86°C (69.55°F). An analysis by the AFP news agency found that more than two-thirds of Europeans—about 410 million people—experienced temperatures above 35°C (95°F) during the heatwave.
These extreme temperatures have raised concerns about public safety and exposed inequalities, particularly in France, where some communities reported having "nothing to cool off with." The heatwave's impact coincides with other global weather events, including flooding in southern China caused by Tropical Storm Maysak.
Source: Al Jazeera
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