Published On 7/3/2026
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Last update: 15:23 (Mecca time)
France, the Netherlands and Belgium recorded an additional 3,700 deaths during the June heatwave, which sent temperatures soaring across Europe, while authorities warned that the numbers were preliminary and could rise.
Experts said that the heat wave, which lasted approximately from June 20 to 28, was the worst in European history, as it disrupted electricity generation, damaged infrastructure, and burdened health care systems.
In France, the Public Health Authority announced today, Friday, that the number of deaths had increased by 30% in the country during the week from June 22 to 28, and by 62% in the capital, Paris alone, at the height of the exceptional heat wave that struck the country.
The French Health Authority reported that the new increase was 29.1%, equivalent to 2,025 additional deaths compared to the previous week, indicating that this number is an underestimate.
According to French Minister of Health Stephanie Rest, there is a noticeable increase in deaths among those over the age of 45.
The 30% percentage reflects the magnitude of the health repercussions of the heat wave that struck France for approximately 10 days, including 3 days that witnessed the highest temperatures ever recorded in the country.
On Thursday, stores witnessed stampedes and fights after about 200,000 fans and air conditioners were put up for sale.
Forest fires and the evacuation of dozens
In southern France, about 3,000 people were evacuated and firefighting helicopters were deployed to fight forest fires that broke out following the exceptional heat wave.
Tourists and residents of the town of Sainte-Marie-la-Mare were transported following a forest fire that quickly expanded, on Thursday, to the town of Canet-en-Roussillon.
Firefighters said that about 3,000 people were evacuated, half of them from three camping sites in the affected area.
According to a senior official in the Eastern Pyrenees province, two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
For his part, French Prime Minister Sebastien Le Cornu said on Thursday that climate phenomena contributed to the outbreak of relatively severe forest fires earlier than usual.
He added during an emergency meeting in the city of Marseille in southern France, “We must acknowledge that it is occurring approximately 15 days to 3 weeks earlier than usual.”
Locorno explained that 7,000 forest fires have been recorded since the beginning of the season, and that the fires have destroyed 8,700 hectares (1 hectare = 10,000 square metres).
He added that the severity of the fires and the speed of their outbreak “will require a great deal of patience” from the authorities and firefighters alike.
As for Portugal, 4 people were injured as a result of a forest fire that affected the north of the country since Wednesday night, on the third day of a severe heat wave that struck the country.
A spokesman for the National Civil Protection Authority told Agence France-Presse, “Three firefighters were slightly injured, while a civilian suffered severe burns.”
The fire broke out at dawn on Thursday in the Vouzela area, requiring the participation of more than 900 firefighters as of Friday morning, supported by about 300 vehicles and eight aircraft.
Due to the very hot and dry weather, with temperatures expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius in some areas, the Portuguese Meteorological Service raised the alert level to red in 12 out of 18 regions on mainland Portugal.
This warning is scheduled to remain in effect on Saturday and Sunday in about 10 regions.
High numbers in the Netherlands and Belgium
In the Netherlands, the health authorities announced on Thursday that the unprecedented heat wave that struck the country last week led to about 480 deaths in excess of the number expected to be recorded in the Netherlands under normal circumstances during this period.
Health authorities said that excess deaths, in the week of June 22 to 28, were recorded mainly among people aged 80 years and over.
She noted that most of these deaths were recorded in the south and east of the Netherlands, where temperatures reached their highest levels.
During the heat wave, the Netherlands recorded record June temperatures of nearly 40 degrees Celsius.
As for Belgium, the Ministry of Health announced, on Thursday, that the country recorded an additional death rate of 39%, or 1,222 additional deaths, between June 18 and 29.
The Ministry added that 530 of these deaths were among people aged 85 years or over, while among people under the age of 65, the number of deaths reached 180 cases of excess deaths.
The ministry said in a statement, “This level of excess deaths came during an unprecedented heat wave in our country.”
According to an analysis conducted by Agence France-Presse, the temperature in areas of Europe inhabited by 410 million people exceeded the threshold of 35 degrees Celsius at least once during the heat wave between June 15 and 30, that is, more than two-thirds of the population.
