Spain's heatwave death toll tops 1,000 as record heat scorches Europe

Europe is facing one of its most intense heatwaves on record, with soaring temperatures claiming lives, disrupting transport and shattering weather records across the continent. Scientists say the extreme conditions were made significantly more likely by climate change, while global ocean temperatures have also reached unprecedented June highs.

Spain experienced its hottest first six months since weather records began, with average temperatures 1.6C above normal, according to the national weather agency Aemet.

"The seven warmest first semesters... have occurred over the past 10 years," the agency said in a post on X.

June 2026 became Spain's second-hottest June on record, with temperatures averaging 3.2C above the norm.

The extreme heat has also taken a heavy human toll. Spain's Carlos III Health Institute said 1,028 people died from heat-related causes during the recent heatwave.

More from World

The figure is more than double the 407 heat-related deaths recorded in June 2025, which was previously Spain's hottest June since records began.

Europe shatters temperature records

The heatwave that swept across Europe from late June has been described by the World Weather Attribution group as the most severe ever recorded in Europe and one that would have been "virtually impossible" in June without climate change.

Several countries broke all-time temperature records, including Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The UK and Switzerland also recorded their hottest June temperatures on record, while France experienced its highest-ever average nighttime temperatures.

Talking about the situation, a London-based entrepreneur, Sanjeev Kumar, said, “UK homes are generally designed to trap heat with double-glazed doors. Most of our homes and most of our public transport don't have ACs. Even some of the cafes don't have ACs. Now people are buying fans and ACs. TFL transport, London buses, don't have air conditioning in them. They only have heating in it because we have cold temperatures. So, this is the reality of it now with climate change. So, London is facing the new reality.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1,300 excess deaths linked to the heatwave have been recorded across Europe since 21 June.

Germany struggles with extreme heat

Germany has faced widespread disruption as temperatures climbed to record levels.

The German Weather Service (DWD) provisionally recorded 41.7°C in a rural settlement in Brandenburg, marking the country's third consecutive day of record-breaking temperatures.

Tropical nights, where temperatures remain above 20°C throughout a 24-hour period, also affected large parts of the country, providing little overnight relief.

Officials had warned only weeks earlier that Germany was "insufficiently prepared" for extreme heat.

"Most intensive care units in Germany are now air-conditioned, but that's about as far as it goes."

Although temperatures have since begun falling and thunderstorms have moved in, the damage caused by the heat remains evident.

Large sections of motorway in Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt remain closed after the road surface buckled in the heat, while motorists have been advised to avoid the busy A2 motorway. In Leipzig, asphalt melted over tram tracks, forcing the closure of key transport routes.

World's oceans record hottest June

The extreme heat on land has coincided with record ocean temperatures.

Global average sea surface temperatures reached 20.98°C in June, making it the hottest June ever recorded for the world's oceans and surpassing the previous records set in 2023 and 2024.

Scientists warn that the combination of El Nino and climate change could push ocean temperatures even higher in the coming months, increasing the likelihood of further extreme weather events worldwide.