WHO Warns ‘More Deadly Weeks’ For Europe As Severe Heatwave Develops Again
WHO Warns ‘More Deadly Weeks’ For Europe As Severe Heatwave Develops Again Published By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026, 18:03 IST According to the WHO
WHO Warns ‘More Deadly Weeks’ For Europe As Severe Heatwave Develops Again Published By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026, 18:03 IST According to the WHO, temperatures in Portugal and southern Spain are expected to climb to as high as 43 degrees Celsius in the coming days. Rapid Read Europe faces its worst recorded heatwave, with record temperatures above 40C causing hundreds of deaths, transport chaos, power strain, farm losses and sweeping emergency measures. Unlike floods or earthquakes, heatwaves often kill quietly. Most victims do not die directly from “heatstroke” alone. Instead, extreme heat pushes the body beyond its ability to regulate temperature, putting immense pressure on the heart, kidneys, lungs and brain. Health experts say prolonged exposure to high temperatures can trigger: * Heart attacks * Strokes * Kidney failure * Breathing complications * Severe dehydration * Worsening of diabetes and chronic illnesses Europe Hetawave: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday warned that Europe could face “more deadly weeks" as another intense heatwave builds over the Atlantic, urging countries to strengthen preparedness after a record-breaking spell of extreme heat claimed thousands of lives across the continent.
According to the WHO, temperatures in Portugal and southern Spain are expected to climb to as high as 43 degrees Celsius in the coming days, raising concerns of renewed health emergencies. WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said he had held an emergency meeting on Monday with representatives from 41 countries, the European Commission and civil society organisations to review lessons from the recent heatwave and prepare for the next one. “The work now is on two fronts: fixing what failed in recent weeks before the next heatwave hits and building the kind of health systems that don’t just respond to extreme heat but are ready for it," Kluge said as quoted by news agency Reuters. He said that countries with heat-health action plans were able to respond more quickly and better protect vulnerable populations during the June heatwave. However, fewer than half of WHO’s European member states currently have such plans in place. The prolonged heatwave, which began around June 20, has been driven by an “Omega Block" weather pattern that trapped hot air over western and central Europe.
The June 20-28 heatwave has been described by experts as the most severe ever recorded in Europe. Temperatures touched 40 degrees Celsius in several regions, disrupting power generation, damaging infrastructure and placing heavy strain on healthcare systems. Scientists have said the extreme weather was almost certainly driven by climate change. Preliminary estimates from France, the Netherlands and Belgium indicated that around 3,700 excess deaths occurred during the recent heatwave, although authorities have cautioned that the toll could rise as more data becomes available. Kluge also expressed concern that vulnerable groups, including care home residents, homeless people and socially isolated older adults, continue to be inadequately protected during periods of extreme heat. The WHO has urged governments to strengthen heat-health preparedness measures as Europe braces for another spell of dangerously high temperatures. (With inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news.
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