Europe is facing a deadly new climate challenge as a severe heatwave grips Southern Europe, pushing temperatures beyond 40 degrees Celsius and putting thousands of lives at risk over the coming days, according to experts.

Southern Europe is currently enduring an intense heatwave, with Spain’s Huelva region reaching a record-breaking 46 degrees Celsius for June. Italy, Greece, Portugal, and the Western Balkans are also experiencing dangerously high temperatures, alongside devastating wildfires and civilian casualties.

Tourists stand in front of a cooling fan installed outside the Colosseum in during the heatwave in Rome, Italy, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Thousands of Excess Deaths Predicted

A World Health Organization (WHO) expert issued a stark warning on Monday, emphasizing the urgent need for action to prevent tens of thousands of “unnecessary and largely preventable deaths.” As reported in Politico, Marisol Yglesias Gonzalez, the WHO’s technical officer for climate change and health, underscored the growing frequency and duration of these heatwaves, stating, “It’s no longer a question of if we will have a heatwave, but how many are we going to experience this year and how long will they last.”

According to Pierre Masselot, a statistician at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who spoke to Politico, this current heatwave could cause more than 4,500 excess deaths across Europe between June 30 and July 3. The countries expected to suffer the highest excess mortality include Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Luxembourg. Masselot noted that the worst days would likely be Tuesday and Wednesday.

Hikers stand on the side of the Aletsch Glacier in Fiesch, Switzerland, August 12, 2015. One of Europe’s biggest glaciers, the Great Aletsch coils 23 km (14 miles) through the Swiss Alps – and yet this mighty river of ice could almost vanish in the lifetimes of people born today because of climate change. The glacier, 900 metres (2,950 feet) thick at one point, has retreated about 3 km (1.9 miles) since 1870 and that pace is quickening. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

PICTURE 22 OF 31 FOR WIDER IMAGE STORY “EARTHPRINTS: ALETSCH GLACIER”. SEARCH “EARTHPRINTS ALETSCH” FOR ALL IMAGES.

Heat currently claims over 175,000 lives annually across the WHO’s Europe region, which stretches from Iceland to Russia. A major study co-authored by Masselot earlier this year, covering 854 European cities, warned that without significant climate adaptation, heat-related deaths will increase sharply.

A drone view shows scorched land following a wildfire on the island of Chios, Greece, June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Konstantinos Anagnostou

Climate Change Driving Extreme Heat

The WHO linked this escalating threat directly to climate change driven by fossil fuel consumption, which is making heatwaves more frequent, intense, and deadly.

FILE PHOTO: Smoke and steam billow from Belchatow Power Station, Europe’s largest coal-fired power plant powered by lignite, in Kleszczow, Poland October 20, 2022. REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki/File Photo

In Spain, nearly two-thirds of towns are under health risk warnings, with 804 municipalities at the highest alert level, according to the Aemet national weather agency. The extreme heat is expected to persist until at least July 3. France, Italy, Portugal, and Greece have also issued heat alerts.

Sixth consecutive day of the wildfire at Evia Island, on August 8, 2021 / Έκτη μέρα της φωτιάς στην Εύβοια, στις 8 Αυγούστου, 2021

Greece is battling air pollution problems from wildfires near Athens, while Turkey has evacuated more than 50,000 people due to fires around Izmir. Albania reported 26 wildfires in just two days, and Serbia recently recorded its hottest day since the 19th century.

A wildfire burns near Seferihisar in Izmir province, Turkey, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Murat Kocabas

Preparedness is Key

The WHO advises vulnerable populations — including older adults, children, outdoor workers, pregnant women, and those with chronic conditions — to stay hydrated, avoid midday heat, and keep cool indoors. People on medications affecting temperature regulation, such as antidepressants or blood pressure drugs, should be especially cautious.

Radar and GPS devices monitor rock falls at the Spitzen Stein at the Oeschinensee, as it threatens the village amid climate change and warming permafrost pose increasing challenges in Kandersteg, Switzerland, June 26, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

But beyond emergency measures, the WHO stresses the importance of preparedness. A 2022 survey revealed that only 21 out of 57 countries in the WHO Europe region have a national heat-health action plan, with just 14 within the EU. Most countries have focused on alert systems and public communication but lag in health system readiness and urban planning to mitigate heat exposure.

The WHO plans to release updated guidance next year, focusing on “people-centered cooling” strategies at urban and regional levels to better protect populations from the deadly impacts of heat.

Europe’s rising temperatures are not just an environmental issue but a pressing public health crisis demanding urgent, coordinated action. The deadly heatwave unfolding now may be just the beginning of a new, harsh climate reality for the continent.