WHO Warns Europe of Deadly Heatwave Ahead

On 7 July 2026 the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that Europe faces “more deadly weeks” as a new intense heatwave is forming over the Atlantic. Forecasts call for temperatures of up to 43 °C in Portugal and southern Spain, with similar peaks expected in France, the Benelux and parts of Central Asia. WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge convened an emergency call on 6 July that included representatives from 41 European countries, the European Commission, and civil-society groups to review lessons from the June heatwave and prepare for the approaching event.

UsNews and World Report

The June 20-28 heatwave was the most severe on record for the continent, disrupting power generation, damaging infrastructure and overwhelming health services. Scientists attributed the extreme temperatures “almost certainly” to climate change. The episode produced excess mortality in several nations and sparked a wave of wildfires across France, Spain, Portugal and Greece.

At Least 3,700 Die During Europe’s Heatwave

• Temperatures: 43 °C in Portugal and southern Spain; 40-44 °C projected for parts of France, the Benelux, and Spain’s river valleys.

Common Dreams

• Excess deaths (preliminary): France ? 2 025, Belgium ? 1 200, Netherlands ? 480 – a combined total of ? 3 700 deaths, with authorities warning the figures may rise.

At Least 3,700 Die During Europe’s Heatwave

• Heat-health action plans: Fewer than half of WHO’s European member states have a national Heat-Health Action Plan in place.

Euronews

• Vulnerable groups: Care-home residents, homeless people and socially isolated older adults remain inconsistently reached across the region.

The Guardian

Kluge emphasized that “countries with well-functioning plans know in advance who is responsible for what, which populations are most at risk, and at which temperature threshold each level of response is activated.” He praised Italy’s mortality-surveillance system, Spain’s media-communication strategy, and Austria’s updated heat plan as replicable tools. The WHO called for two parallel tracks: fixing recent failures and building health systems that are ready for extreme heat. National health ministries in France and Belgium echoed the WHO’s concern, noting sharp rises in mortality and urging faster implementation of heat-health action plans.

Euronews

Critics highlight the stark gap in preparedness: “not even half of European Region Member States have a national Heat-Health Action Plan in place,” Kluge warned. Some political parties, notably Germany’s AfD and France’s National Rally, accuse mainstream governments of blocking air-conditioning adoption to protect climate goals, arguing that limited AC access leaves vulnerable citizens exposed. Conversely, WHO officials stress that investment should prioritize shade, insulation and cooling centres, while still recognizing air-conditioning as a medical necessity for high-risk groups.

The Guardian

• “The work now is on two fronts: fixing what failed in recent weeks before the next heatwave hits and building the kind of health systems that don’t just respond to extreme heat but are ready for it,” — Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe

The Straits Times

• “Countries with well-functioning plans know in advance who is responsible for what, which populations are most at risk, and at which temperature threshold each level of response is activated,” — Hans Kluge

Euronews

• “These examples matter because they are replicable. The tools exist. The evidence base is strong. When plans are in place and tested before a crisis, they save lives.” — Hans Kluge

Daily Star

• “Much of Europe’s investment has rightly gone into longer-term solutions like shade, insulation and cooling centres, rather than mechanical cooling,” — Hans Kluge

The Guardian

• “Climate change is here, we are living the consequences and it is only the start of July,” — Colonel Eric Belgioino, French fire service

The Guardian

The next heatwave is expected to peak on 6 July, with temperatures possibly reaching 44 °C in Spain’s river valleys and 43 °C in Portugal and southern Spain. WHO urges all European states to finalize and activate heat-health action plans, expand outreach to care-home residents and the homeless, and ensure cooling facilities are available for medically vulnerable populations before the wave arrives.

The Straits Times