More than 1,300 excess deaths linked to high temperatures have been recorded across Europe since June 21, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media platform X on Sunday.
The excess death count refers to the difference between the actual total number of death in a specific period and location and the number of deaths normally expected.
"Right now 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools are shut, grids are buckling," Tedros said on X.
He warned that "heat stress is often called the 'silent killer' - and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures."
Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating twice as much as the global average, Tedros said. "Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the 'once-in-a-generation' heatwave is now occurring' nearly annually, he said.
The WHO is working with its members and partners to address the health threats posed by extreme heat through focusing on preparedness, prevention and stronger health system responses. Tedros called on European countries to "implement heat health action plans" as part of the broader agenda to protect health against climate change.
Over 1,300 excess deaths linked to Europe heatwave: WHO
