Divya Delhi : A record-breaking heatwave sweeping across Europe has claimed more than 1,300 lives since June 21, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Temperatures have crossed 40°C in several countries, triggering health emergencies, infrastructure disruptions, and widespread public safety concerns across the continent. France has reported around 1,000 excess deaths linked to the extreme weather, with elderly people accounting for the majority of fatalities. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise further as more data becomes available. Hospitals, emergency services, and funeral homes in several regions have come under intense pressure due to the surge in heat-related cases. The WHO has described heat stress as a “silent killer” and warned that Europe’s homes, schools, and workplaces are not adequately designed to withstand increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. The agency has urged governments to strengthen heat-health action plans, improve early warning systems, and expand cooling infrastructure to protect vulnerable populations. Scientists say climate change is making such extreme weather events more likely and more severe, raising concerns about future heat-related disasters across the continent.
