Excess deaths in Europe heatwave hit 1,300 after temperatures push past 40°C

The number of excess deaths in the heatwave sweeping across mainland Europe has reached 1,300 according to the World Health Organisation.

WHO boss Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the figure was calculated from last Sunday, when abnormally high temperatures began to be recorded in countries including France, Germany and Italy.

In a post on X, he wrote: ‘Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling.

‘Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the “once-in-a-generation” heatwave is now occurring nearly annual.’

In France, around 36,000 homes are without power following heatwave-related storms – which led to the Eiffel Tower being struck by lightning and golf ball-sized hail stripping tiles from roofs.

Further storms are expected to hit the country tonight.

Meanwhile, Italy is hitting the peak of its heatwave today with temperatures expected to approach 40°C.

News agency Ansa reported an 82-year-old tourist had died on a beach in Marina di Grosseto, on the Tuscany coast.

Germany, Denmark and Czechia have preliminarily beaten their all-time temperature records, while France and Switzerland have beaten their record heat for June.

The extreme heat is coming to an end for the UK, with temperatures in areas like London expected to fall below 20°C tonight for the first time in several days.

However, the respite comes after the British record for June heat was broken three days in a row, hitting 37.3°C in Santon Downham on Friday.

Dr Ghebreyesus warned in his post on X that ‘European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures’.

He said: ‘WHO is working with its Member States and partners to address the health threats posed by extreme heat through focusing on preparedness, prevention and stronger health system responses.’

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