The World Health Organization (WHO) has linked more than 1,300 excess deaths to the early summer heatwave spreading across Europe since June 21. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, European infrastructure is not built to withstand the hot conditions.

“Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ – and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures,” Tedros stated on X.

He noted that Europe is warming at twice the global average rate, with millions currently facing grid failures and school closures. “Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the ‘once-in-a-generation’ heatwave is now occurring nearly annually,” he added.

Data from France’s national health ministry shows approximately 1,000 more deaths than expected occurred between Wednesday and Sunday morning. The agency reported a 40 percent increase in fatalities at home, with citizens aged 65 and over comprising the majority of these deaths.

Germany registered its highest temperature on record for the third consecutive day, reaching 41.7C at a station in Coschen near the Polish border.

In the Czech Republic, the Doksany station north of Prague recorded 41.1C. The Czech meteorological institute CHMI stated that Sunday was expected to be the peak of the heatwave, with storms forecast for western regions.

Poland also broke its all-time temperature record, reaching 40.5C in the town of Slubice.

Meteorologists attribute the weather pattern to a “heat dome” effect where sinking atmospheric air compresses and heats up upon reaching the ground. The process dries out the air, preventing cloud formation and allowing direct sunlight to raise ground temperatures.

The conditions have forced authorities to cancel public events and implement safety measures. In the Netherlands, organizers cancelled the Defqon.1 music festival following a code red warning.

In Paris, officials cancelled the city’s pride march and instituted a ban on public takeaway alcohol consumption from Friday noon until Sunday morning to reduce pressure on emergency services.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told Le Parisien newspaper that at least 74 people have drowned since the start of the heatwave. Nuñez stated that the majority of these incidents took place in unsupervised bodies of water, including rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Tedros has called on European nations to implement heat health action plans to protect public health against changing climate patterns.