Germany Records 15,800 Heat-Related Deaths as Europe Battles Severe Heatwaves

Germany has recorded an estimated 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer, as intense and prolonged heatwaves continue to affect large parts of Europe, according to the country’s national public health institute.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said people aged 75 and above were the worst affected. Around 9,600 heat-related deaths were estimated during a single week in late June, when temperatures across parts of Germany climbed above 40°C.

A further 4,000 deaths were recorded between late July and mid-August, according to the institute’s latest assessment.

The extreme heat, combined with widespread drought, has intensified pressure across Europe, with wildfires spreading, crops damaged and water levels in major rivers falling.

France, Britain and Spain have also reported thousands of excess deaths linked to this summer’s extreme temperatures, highlighting the growing health impact of increasingly severe heat across the continent.