A new study reports that record-breaking temperatures in Europe this summer contributed to the deaths of more than 50,000 people.
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Researchers categorized heat-related deaths by age group in 854 European cities during repeated heat waves in June, July, and August, and found that 50,391 people died due to high temperatures. Of these, 32,619 died due to excessive heat caused by burning coal, oil, and gas, according to a study to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Nature Health.
This figure exceeds by 71% the deadliest summer toll recorded in 2022 with 29,480 deaths, according to a study conducted by the same researchers earlier this month to track summer heat-related deaths in those European cities.
The study's authors pointed out that these figures are lower than reality, given that they do not include the deadly heat wave in May, and are limited to deaths in 854 cities that make up about 40% of Europe's population.
The study also found that of those 50,000 people, more than 32,000 died due to excessive heat caused by human-induced climate change.
The study indicated that Italy, France, Spain, and Germany recorded the highest number of deaths. Among all European capitals, Rome recorded the highest total number of heat-related deaths from 2000 to 2025, according to the team's study released earlier this month.
