More Than 1,300 Deaths in Europe in One Week Due to Heat Wave: WHO Sounds the Alarm

The abnormal heatwave in Europe since June 21 has caused more than 1,300 deaths, warned WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus. Find out why Europe is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world and why Ghebreyesus called the heatwave a “silent killer”

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The heatwave that has gripped Europe since June 21 has caused the deaths of more than 1,300 people. This was reported by World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus on his X account.

“Since June 21, more than 1,300 additional deaths linked to high temperatures in Europe have been recorded,” he wrote.

Read also: A series of restrictions are being introduced in Europe due to the heat.

Why is Europe particularly vulnerable to heat?

According to Ghebreyesus, Europe is “the fastest-warming continent on Earth” — temperatures here are rising twice as fast as the global average. Currently, about 150 million people on the continent are living in conditions of extreme heat.

The WHO director highlighted a critical problem: homes, workplaces, and schools in Europe are simply not designed to withstand such temperatures. Most buildings were constructed decades ago without air conditioning, given the temperate climate — and now this infrastructure is becoming dangerous for people during heat waves.

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“The Silent Killer”: How Does Heat Quietly Kill People?

Tedros called heat stress “the silent killer.” Unlike hurricanes or floods, heat doesn’t look like a disaster—but it kills just as effectively. The victims are typically the elderly, children, people with chronic illnesses, and those forced to stay outdoors or in poorly ventilated spaces.

“Hundreds of people have died, schools are closed, and power grids are failing,” Gebreyesus said, describing the scale of the crisis.

The WHO director’s most alarming conclusion concerns not the current situation, but the trend. Due to climate change, what was once considered a “once-in-a-generation heat wave” now occurs almost every year.

“We were warned,” emphasized Ghebreyesus, alluding to decades of climate forecasts that never led to systemic solutions.

The WHO is currently working with member states and partners to strengthen the preparedness of health systems for extreme heat—from prevention to response in critical situations.

Tip: If you’re planning a trip to one of the countries affected by the heatwave, don’t forget to get travel health insurance for your trip abroad. Heatstroke, dehydration, and other heat-related conditions require medical care, which can be expensive abroad. You can purchase a policy online through Visit Ukraine.

We remind you! Extreme heat is having an increasingly significant impact on Europe’s tourism industry. Some travelers are already postponing their vacations until spring and fall or choosing cooler countries instead of traditional Mediterranean resorts. Read more about how climate change is forcing tourists to rethink their vacation plans.

Photo: Freepik

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