Public health stories

Record-Breaking May and June Heatwaves Linked to Over 2,700 Deaths in England and Wales, 10,000 Across Europe

Scientists estimate that unprecedented heatwaves in May and June 2026 caused more than 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales, with approximately 440 deaths per day during the June heatwave's three-day peak. Across Europe, the extreme heat resulted in over 10,000 excess deaths, with researchers attributing the severity to a 'heat dome' worsened by human-induced climate change.