The summer of 2026 was the deadliest summer in Europe. Scientists estimated the number of victims at more than 50,000 people, and 65 percent of the deaths were related to man-made climate change.
According to researchers, the effects of the heat were particularly severe in June 2026. Nearly a third of all heat-related deaths occurred between June 17 and July 1. During this period, the average temperature was five degrees higher than during the same periods in 1991-2020.
"We can say with great confidence that the summer of 2026 was the worst on record for heat-related deaths across large areas of Europe," said Claire Barnes, an extreme weather and climate change researcher at Imperial College London.
According to the researchers, not only older people died from the effects of the heat. According to their estimates, about 6 thousand of the 50 thousand deaths were under the age of 65.
"It is becoming increasingly clear that our cities are ill-equipped to deal with rising temperatures, and it is essential that efforts to adapt are stepped up," said epidemiologist Pierre Maslot from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
DW.
More interesting things - Batik-tok Enib Armenia.