WHO Warns of More Deadly Weeks as New Heatwave Forms Over Atlantic
Quick Look
- The WHO warns Europe faces more deadly weeks as a new heatwave forms over the Atlantic, with temperatures in Portugal and Spain expected to reach 43°C.
- Many European countries lack adequate heat-health action plans, and experts link the recent severe heatwave to climate change.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Europe faces more deadly weeks as a new heatwave forms over the Atlantic, with temperatures expected to reach forty-three degrees Celsius in Portugal and Spain. Many countries lack adequate heat-health action plans.
The World Health Organization warned on Tuesday that Europe could face "more deadly weeks" ahead, with another intense heatwave forming over the Atlantic.
Temperatures in Portugal and southern Spain are expected to climb to 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) in the coming days.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge held an emergency call on Monday with representatives from 41 countries in the region, the European Commission and civil society groups to discuss lessons from the recent heatwave and preparations for the next one.
Kluge said in a statement that countries with heat-health action plans in place responded more quickly and better protected their populations during the June heatwave.
However, he said that less than half of WHO's European member states had such a plan in place.
Experts have said the June 20-28 heatwave was the most severe recorded in Europe, causing disruption to power generation, damaging infrastructure and overwhelming healthcare systems.
The extreme heat was almost certainly driven by climate change, scientists said.
France, the Netherlands and Belgium recorded 3,700 excess deaths, with authorities warning that the numbers are preliminary and could rise.
Temperatures hit 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Europe during the heatwave.
Kluge said care home residents, homeless people and socially isolated older adults were still not being reached consistently across Europe.
"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.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Temperatures in Portugal and Spain to reach 43°C.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Will all countries implement effective action plans?
- What are the long-term health impacts?
- How will infrastructure withstand future heatwaves?
