German deaths rise 32% during record June heatwave, data shows

Deaths in Germany spiked 32 per cent during a record heatwave in June compared to levels in the previous four years, official data showed Tuesday.Nationwide, about 23,900 people died between June 22 and June 28 – an increase of 7,100 compared with the two previous weeks, according to Germany’s statistics agency.“The fact that the health impact from heat is high and that death rates rise as a result is a well-known effect often observed in the summer months,” the agency said.Sweltering weather swept across western Europe last month, with temperatures in parts of Germany topping 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit).The report revised upwards the agency’s previous estimate of around 6,800 heat-related deaths during the heatwave.A woman uses an umbrella to shield herself from the sun in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on Friday. Photo: EPAOther than the final week of June, mortality figures across Germany in 2026 have largely remained within the range of the previous four years or even declined, the agency said.