Researchers from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine estimate that heat contributed to 50,391 deaths across 854 European urban areas during June–August 2026; their model attributes 32,619 of those deaths to additional warming caused by human activity. The authors say the estimate omits a deadly May heatwave and covers cities representing about 40% of the population in 30 countries, so it is not a Europe-wide count and should not be mistaken for death-certificate totals. AP reviewed the findings; Imperial’s Grantham Institute summarizes the study, and the Science Media Centre notes the estimates rely on epidemiological modelling and should be read alongside official national figures. Sources: AP — apnews.com source ↗ ; Imperial College London — imperial.ac.uk source ↗ ; Science Media Centre Spain — sciencemediacentre.es source ↗
International
Study estimates 50,000 heat-related deaths in European cities this summer
A new study estimates that summer heat contributed to 50,391 deaths across 854 European cities in June–August, with about 32,619 attributed to human-caused warming. The researchers stress the figures are modelled estimates, not a count of deaths recorded directly as heat-related.
Join the conversation.
No published comments yet. Share the first thoughtful response.
Share your view.
Comments are reviewed before publication. Keep the conversation relevant, civil, and focused on the reporting.