Severe heatwave across Europe causes fatalities and record-breaking temperatures
A severe heatwave impacting Europe from June 21 to June 25, 2026, has resulted in at least 212 deaths in Spain, according to the Carlos III Institute of Health. France has reported at least three heat-related deaths, including a three-year-old child found in a vehicle, while Italy has recorded at least five deaths among agricultural and construction workers and a homeless person. In Western Europe, temperatures have reached or exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in several areas, with Paris recording record highs. Approximately 350 million people, about two-thirds of the European population, experienced temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius. French authorities have placed 72 departments under 'red alert' status, affecting over 51 million people. In Italy, 17 cities were placed on high alert, with plans in Rome to convert historical underground structures into climate shelters. Cultural sites like the Uffizi Gallery in Florence have restricted access to online bookings to avoid queues in the sun. Experts from the IPCC note that these extreme events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.