The World Health Organization has warned that Europe could face "more deadly weeks" as another intense heatwave develops over the Atlantic, urging governments to strengthen emergency preparations before temperatures rise again.
reach as high as 43°C in the coming days, following what experts say was Europe's most severe recorded heatwave between 20 and 28 June.
Scientists said the extreme temperatures were almost certainly driven by human-induced climate change.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said France, the Netherlands and Belgium have already reported around 3,700 excess deaths linked to the recent heatwave, while cautioning that the figures remain preliminary and could increase.
The June heatwave pushed temperatures above 40°C across several parts of Europe, disrupting power generation, damaging infrastructure and placing healthcare systems under severe strain.
Kluge held an emergency meeting on Monday with representatives from 41 countries, the European Commission and civil society groups to review lessons from the recent heatwave and prepare for the next.
He said countries with dedicated heat-health action plans responded more effectively, but noted that fewer than half of the WHO's European member states currently have such strategies in place.
The WHO warned that care home residents, homeless people and socially isolated older adults continue to be inadequately protected during extreme heat events.
"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.
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