More than 1,300 excess deaths have been linked to the record-breaking heatwave that has swept across Europe since June 21, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday.
France alone recorded about 1,000 more deaths than expected between Wednesday and Sunday as emergency services struggled to cope with a surge in heat-related illnesses, according to DW.
Tens of millions of people endured extreme temperatures over the weekend as the heatwave moved east across the continent, placing increasing pressure on health systems. Schools were closed in some areas, while authorities also reported strain on critical infrastructure.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described heat stress as a "silent killer," warning that many homes, workplaces and schools across Europe were not built to withstand such extreme temperatures.
Forecasts showed that at least 191 million Europeans were expected to experience temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher on Sunday, with Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland among the hardest-hit countries.
The Czech Republic recorded a record 41.1 degrees Celsius in Doksany, north of Prague, the highest temperature ever measured in the country's official weather station network. Authorities warned temperatures could climb even higher.
An analysis combining forecasts from the German Meteorological Service with 2025 population projections from the European Union's Joint Research Centre, compiled by Austrian NGO Klimadashboard, estimated that 381 million people across Europe, excluding Turkey, would face temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.
According to France 24, the widespread exposure prompted Tedros to warn that "millions of people across the continent are currently living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling."
He said climate change is driving increasingly intense heatwaves, turning what were once "once-in-a-generation" events into near-annual occurrences. He also noted that Europe is warming at twice the global average.
The WHO said it is working with member states and partners to strengthen preparedness, prevention and health system responses. It urged governments to adopt and implement heat-health action plans to protect vulnerable populations and reduce further deaths.