Europe heat wave: 1,000 excess deaths recorded in France

Skip next section At least 191 million people to face 35 degree Celsius — report June 28, 2026

At least 191 million people to face 35 degree Celsius — report

French news agency AFP has estimated that at least 191 million European residents will endure temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit and above on Sunday, as the current heat wave moves eastward into central and eastern Europe.

The heat is forecast to be particularly intense in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, per AFP estimates.

A total of 381 million people in Europe, excluding Turkey, will see temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.

The AFP analysis and predictions are based on forecasts from the German Meteorological Service and 2025 population projections from the Joint Research Center collated by Austrian NGO Klimadashboard.

https://p.dw.com/p/5GC6T

Skip next section Germany: At least 7 die while swimming during weekend June 28, 2026

Germany: At least 7 die while swimming during weekend

At least seven people have died in swimming accidents in Germany over the weekend, which saw record-breaking temperatures.

The heat sent many people to lakes and rivers, as they attempted to cool off amid the scorching heat.

In the capital, police said two people died in separate swimming accidents. A 42-year-old man was found in the Jungfernheideteich man-made lake in western Berlin, while a 51-year-old man was found at the Tempelhofer urban harbor.

Meanwhile in the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg, a 27-year-old man drowned in the Neckar River near the city of Heidelberg, and a 30-year-old man died in a lake near Mannheim.

A child was also reported missing in the Rhine-Herne Canal in western Germany.

In the central state of Hesse, the body of a 40-year-old man was found from a lake near the financial capital Frankfurt.

And in Germany's most-populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, a 45-year-old man was found in a lake near Dortmund. Northward near Hanover, an 8-year-old was found in a lake.

At Lake Constance near the border with Switzerland and Austria, the bodies of two elderly swimmers were recovered on Friday. They had disappeared a day earlier after jumping from a rental boat.

https://p.dw.com/p/5GC60

Skip next section Germany records hottest night on record June 28, 2026

Germany records hottest night on record

Saturday night was the hottest ever in Germany since records began, the weather service announced on Sunday.

The temperature in Saxony's Kubschütz did not drop under 84.92 degrees Fahrenheit during the night, the German Weather Service (DWD) said.

"This is a new record for the nighttime minimum temperature in Germany since records began," the DWD said.

The previous record was set on August 13, 2003, when nighttime temperature reached 27.2 degrees Celsius.

https://p.dw.com/p/5GC1t

Skip next section France: 1,000 more deaths than average in heat-wave struck areas June 28, 2026

France: 1,000 more deaths than average in heat-wave struck areas

Since June 24, France has recorded approximately 1,000 additional deaths compared to previous months, the French Health Ministry said on Sunday, adding that the figure is not final.

"Numerous monthly and all-time records have been broken; Tuesday, June 23, was the hottest day on record nationwide, breaking the record set in 2003," the ministry statement read.

More than 1,200 deaths (of all causes) were recorded on June 24, with over 1,400 more on June 25 and June 26 each, the ministry said, adding that there were around 900 to 1,000 deaths per day in April and May.

"This increase has been more pronounced in regions under a red alert over the past few days, particularly in Ile-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire," the Health Ministry said.

Although all age groups have been affected, 85% of the deaths were people aged 65 and older.

Deaths have increased in hospitals, nursing homes and at home, the ministry noted, adding that deaths at home in particular spiked by 40%.

"This observation serves as a reminder of the need for measures of solidarity toward people who are isolated or experiencing profound loneliness, including in highly urbanized areas," it said.

The ministry stressed that the figures are based solely on electronic death certificates and are therefore non-conclusive, typically representing about 60% of national mortality, with deaths at home particularly a blind spot.

https://p.dw.com/p/5GBtE

Skip next section Germany sets record temperatures for second day running June 27, 2026

Germany sets record temperatures for second day running

Germany broke its all-time heat record for the second straight day, with a preliminary reading of 41.5 degrees Celsius  (106.7 Fahrenheit), the German Weather Service (DWD) reported.

The new record was measured in the town of Möckern-Drewitz in eastern Germany.

"It can't be ruled out that temperatures could approach 42 degrees Celsius," the service, which issued a red alert for most of the country on Saturday, said.

The previous record was set only a day earlier, when temperatures reached 41.3 degrees Celsius in the southwestern city Saarbrücken.

The figures published by DWD are still preliminary and could be revised.

https://p.dw.com/p/5GAbV

Skip next section WATCH: Extreme heat puts vulnerable groups at risk June 27, 2026

WATCH: Extreme heat puts vulnerable groups at risk

Simon Bone

Heat waves such as the current one in Europe are hard to bear for many people.

But certain groups, including elderly people and those without a fixed abode, not only suffer more but face greater risks to health and even life.

DW has this video looking at the challenges faced by such vulnerable members of society, particularly with support services under strain amid the extreme weather :

Europe's heat wave deepens strain on elderly, homeless

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

https://p.dw.com/p/5GAAM

Skip next section Heat wave continues to send European temperature records tumbling Published June 27, 2026last updated June 27, 2026

Heat wave continues to send European temperature records tumbling

From Denmark to Switzerland and the Czech Republic, national records have been broken across Europe on Saturday as the continent continues to swelter in a heatwave.

In Denmark, the Danish Meteorological Institute reported a new record of 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in Odum, north of the country's second-largest city Aarhus — the warmest day since records began in 1874

In Switzerland, a record of 38.8 C was chalked in Basel, where the borders of Switzerland, France, and Germany meet

In the Czech Republic, Doksany, north of Prague, hit 40.6 degrees Celcius, the highest temperature recorded in the country

https://p.dw.com/p/5GAWU

Skip next section Central, eastern European countries on high alert June 27, 2026

Central, eastern European countries on high alert

The Czech Republic, Hungary and Moldova have issued highest alert levels for the weekend as extreme heat engulfs the three countries.

Romania on Saturday became the latest country to issue a red alert, warning residents that very high temperatures would arrive from Monday to Wednesday.

Slovakia had already issued a similar warning, saying that the country had experienced record nighttime heat overnight to Saturday with temperatures staying above 26.3 C (79.34 F).

Balkan countries are also gearing up to face sweltering conditions in the next few days.

https://p.dw.com/p/5GACE

Skip next section At least 193 million in Europe to see temperatures above 35 C — reports June 27, 2026

At least 193 million in Europe to see temperatures above 35 C — reports

At least 193 million people across Europe are likely to experience temperatures above 35 C (95 F) on Saturday, according to an analysis by the AFP news agency.

That is up on the some 150 million who were expected to see such temperatures on Friday.

Many of those people are expected to be in Germany, where 75 million are predicted to swelter in 35 C heat, while altogether 82 million — virtually the entire population — are likely to face temperatures above 30 C.

AFP says that more than 9 million people in Hungary — again, almost the entire population — will be seeing temperatures of more than 35 C.

https://p.dw.com/p/5GA4n

Skip next section Munich Pride events to go ahead in searing heat June 27, 2026

Munich Pride events to go ahead in searing heat

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join a Pride Parade in the southern German city of Munich on Saturday despite the high temperatures.

Pride events in the city such as parties and a street festival will continue on Sunday, when extreme heat is also expected.

Temperatures in Munich are forecast to reach 36 C (96.8 F) and 34 C respectively over the two days.

The Paris Pride, which was also to have taken place on Saturday, has, however, been postponed, with police saying they would close it down to relieve the strain on health services.

Another major event in Germany on Sunday, the Ironman European Championship long-distance triathlon, will see the cycling and running courses shortened because of the heat, organizers have said. taking place on Sunday in Frankfurt shortened the cycling and

https://p.dw.com/p/5GA3m

Skip next section FACT CHECK: Disinformation on heat waves June 27, 2026

FACT CHECK: Disinformation on heat waves

Social media are currently flooded by posts making completely unfounded claims about the current heat wave, ways of dealing with it and its links to climate change.

DW has put together a fact check debunking several of these kinds of disinformation: Fact check: Throwing cold water on heat wave disinformation

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9wJ

Skip next section Germany set for another scorcher June 27, 2026

Germany set for another scorcher

A record set on Friday for the highest June temperature in Germany could potentially fall just a day later, with the German Weather Service (DWD) saying the mercury could climb to 42 C (107.6 F) in some places on Saturday.

On Friday, 41.3 C was recorded in the western city of Saarbrücken, according to preliminary data.

For Saturday, the DWD has forecast temperatures of between 36 and 41 C, and on Sunday, eastern and southeastern regions could see peak temperatures of 39 to 41 C.

The eastern Lausitz region could even see 42 C on Sunday, according to the forecasters.

The rest of Germany is expected to see — slightly — milder temperatures ranging from 32 to 38 C.

However, thunderstorms with strong winds and, possibly, hail, are also likely over the weekend, the DWD says, particularly in central and northern Germany.

The heat wave is predicted to move eastward toward the start of next week, with temperatures in Western Europe sinking to be more in keeping with normal summer levels.

The hot weather is being caused by a "heat dome" of trapped air from north Africa, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.

However, climate scientists say the heat wave has been supercharged by human-induced global warming.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9k0

Skip next section Heat dome expected to move east over weekend June 27, 2026

Heat dome expected to move east over weekend

The ongoing heat wave currently affecting Western Europe will move on to Central Europe and the Balkans toward the end of the month, the World Meteorological Organization has said.

The Czech Republic and Hungary are on red alert for the weekend, with temperatures of up to 40C (104 F) forecast.

Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar said millions of bags of drinking water were being prepared for distribution if necessary.

A planned Pride March in the capital, Budapest, is, however, to go ahead, with organizers asking those at risk from the extreme heat to support the event from their homes.

In Serbia, huge political rally by the ruling nationalist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is also to take place.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9la

Skip next section Welcome back to our coverage June 27, 2026

Welcome back to our coverage

The DW newsroom in Bonn is picking up its coverage again of the extreme weather affecting Germany and much of Euope as another day of high temperatures is forecast.

Like Britain, France and Switzerland, Germany has seen June temperature records broken during the heat wave — 41.3 C (106.34 F) was recorded on Friday in the western city of Saarbrücken, according to preliminary data.

But some relief is in sight for Western Europe at least, with the zone of extreme temperatures expected to move eastward over the weekend into the start of next week.

DW will bring the latest as Europe experiences what climate scientists say is an inevitable consequence of human-induced global warming.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9jV

Skip next section We're pausing our coverage June 27, 2026

We're pausing our coverage

We are pausing our coverage of the heat wave that's sending temperatures soaring in Europe. We will be back with more on the effects of the scorching temperatures on Saturday morning.

Some of Friday's top headlines included:

Germany records provisional all-time high of 41.3 degrees Celsius (106.34 degrees Fahrenheit)

France records over 50 drownings amid heat wave

European heat wave 'virtually impossible' without man-made climate change

https://p.dw.com/p/5G9DH

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