Brussels: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Europe could face another deadly heatwave in the coming weeks, as a new spell of extreme heat builds over the Atlantic and is expected to push temperatures in Portugal and southern Spain to around 43°C.
The warning was issued during an emergency meeting led by Hans Henri P. Kluge with representatives from 41 WHO Europe member states, the European Commission, and civil society organisations.
Kluge praised countries that had established heat-health action plans, saying they responded quickly and coordinated effectively to protect vulnerable populations. However, he noted that fewer than half of the countries in the WHO European Region currently have a national heat-health action plan in place.
He urged governments to strengthen preparedness by addressing weaknesses exposed during recent heatwaves and building health systems capable of responding to future extreme weather events.
Health experts said the heatwave that affected Europe between 20 and 28 June was the most intense on record, causing widespread disruption to energy production, damaging infrastructure and placing heavy pressure on healthcare systems. They added that climate change was very likely the primary driver behind the extreme temperatures.
According to WHO officials, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium recorded around 3,700 excess deaths linked to the recent heatwave, with the final toll expected to rise. Several regions also experienced temperatures of 40°C or higher.
