A recent study estimates that approximately 2,300 people died due to heat-related causes during a 10-day heatwave that struck Western Europe, ending July 2.
The extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) in Spain and triggering wildfires in France, affected 12 major cities, including Barcelona, Madrid, London, and Milan.
Researchers from institutions in the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland conducted the analysis, highlighting the severe impact of the heatwave on urban populations.
The study, published on Wednesday, attributes 1,500 of the 2,300 deaths to human-induced climate change, which intensified the heatwave by increasing temperatures by up to 4°C (39.2°F) in most of the studied cities.
By comparing the heatwave’s intensity to a hypothetical scenario without global warming, researchers found it would have been 2-4°C cooler.
This temperature increase significantly heightened health risks, particularly for the elderly, sick, and outdoor workers.
Urban areas, where paved surfaces and buildings trap heat, faced exacerbated conditions, making cities hotter than surrounding regions.
Heatwaves pose a growing danger in a warming world, with the study underscoring their status as “silent killers” due to underreported deaths.
The analysis utilized peer-reviewed epidemiological models and historical mortality data to estimate the toll, as official heat-related death figures are often unavailable.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service noted that June was the third-hottest on record globally, with Western Europe experiencing unprecedented heat stress.
As greenhouse gas emissions continue to drive rising temperatures, experts warn that heatwaves will become more frequent and severe, urging improved preparedness to protect vulnerable populations.