Europe Scorched: Heatwave Claims Over 2,000 Lives in Deadly Surge

Between June 23 and July 2, an intense heatwave claimed 2,300 lives across European cities, underscoring the deadly impact of soaring temperatures.

This was stated in The Guardian, citing research by scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London.

Scientists report that 1,500 deaths were directly caused by climate change, which has intensified global warming and worsened the heatwave.

Milan was the hardest-hit city, with 317 of the 499 heat-related deaths attributed to climate change, followed by Paris and Barcelona. London recorded 273 heat-related fatalities.

“This study underscores why heat is called the ‘silent killer,’” said epidemiologist Malcolm Meester.

The highest mortality rate is observed among the elderly, with 88% of deaths occurring in people over 65 years old.

Experts note that extreme heat remains an “underestimated” threat, as most victims die unnoticed and receive little media coverage.

“Heatwaves don’t leave a visible trail of destruction like wildfires or storms. Their impact is largely invisible, but quietly devastating.”

A change of just 2 or 3 degrees could mean the difference between life and death for thousands of people,” said Ben Clark, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-author of the study.

Earlier, it became known that Europe was hit by an abnormal heat wave with temperatures up to +42° C. Fires broke out in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece.

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