Heatwaves cause record number of deaths in Germany and Spain

Around 14,000 people have died in Germany this summer due to the effects of heat waves, surpassing the record set in 2018, according to estimates from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), cited by AFP. In Spain, almost 4,500 deaths were linked to the heatwave between June 1 and August 19, a level that confirms the scale of the effects of extreme temperatures on the population.

• Germany: 14,000 heat-related deaths

Data published by the RKI indicate around 14,000 heat-related deaths in Germany this summer, up to August 9. The number exceeds the estimated 8,900 deaths recorded in 2018. People aged 75 and over were the hardest hit, according to the German institute's weekly report. The bulk of the estimated deaths this year, around 9,600, were concentrated in the week of June 22-28, when Germany experienced heatwaves, which in some areas exceeded 41 degrees Celsius.

The RKI estimates are made using statistical methods, by comparing the number of deaths recorded in summer weeks during periods with and without heatwaves.

• Heat aggravates existing conditions

The number of heat-related deaths cannot be determined directly from death certificates, as heatwaves are generally not recorded as a cause of death. According to the RKI, high temperatures rarely cause death directly, as is the case with heatstroke. In most cases, heat combined with pre-existing conditions, such as cardiovascular, pulmonary or renal diseases, contributes to death. For this reason, authorities use the term "heat-related deaths", and the extent of the phenomenon is estimated through statistical analysis of excess mortality.

• Spain: almost 4,500 deaths between June and August

The phenomenon is similar in Spain, where authorities reported on Thursday almost 4,500 deaths associated with the heat wave between June 1 and August 19, according to data from the Carlos III Health Institute in Madrid, consulted by AFP. The number is one of the highest for this period. In the same period in 2025, 3,073 deaths were attributed to the heat, and in 2024, 1,890. In 2022, the year with the highest value in the compared series, 4,520 deaths associated with excessive temperatures were reported.

• July, a record month in Spain

Extreme temperatures have been accompanied by exceptional weather conditions in Spain. July 2026 was the hottest July ever recorded in Spain, equal to July 2022, according to the National Meteorological Agency (Aemet).

At the same time, Aemet stated that July was "the driest July since records began" in 1961. Spain has also faced large-scale fires during the same period, while temperatures have repeatedly exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.

• Heatwaves are becoming a growing pressure on public health

Germany and Spain are among the European countries that are increasingly feeling the effects of extreme heat episodes. Rising temperatures and the greater frequency of heatwaves are amplifying the risks for the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. The data reported this summer thus highlights not only the intensity of heatwave episodes, but also their impact on mortality, especially among vulnerable populations.