Austria records highest heat-related deaths in June and July: hospitals and care homes under strain
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10 days · 3 summary articles
Austria records highest heat-related deaths in June and July: hospitals and care homes under strain
Europe records at least 35,000 excess deaths amid record-breaking summer heatwaves
Germany records around 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer: most victims over 75
Continuation
Austria recorded 646 heat-related deaths in June and July, the highest number for that period, the Austrian Agency for Health (AGES) announced on Sunday. The previous record was 570 deaths in the same months of 2024, with 284 recorded in 2025. The figures were calculated using a statistical model analyzing excess mortality .
Temperatures in Austria reached new highs this summer, with Bad Deutsch-Altenburg in the east hitting 41.2 degrees Celsius in early August. Wieselburg also set a July record of 40.3 degrees on July 31 .
A new analysis by Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) found that over 70% of hospitals, senior care facilities, and 80% of primary care units faced at least 20 heat days by the end of July. About 25% of all facilities endured at least 30 heat days, compared to a long-term average of 20% exposed to high heat stress .
Health Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) emphasized the need to assess the impact on the healthcare system, particularly for vulnerable populations. “We must not only look at the number of heat deaths. We must also examine what increasing heat means for our healthcare system,” she said. Schumann noted the analysis aims to identify high-risk facilities and target interventions. The government’s heat helpline (0800 880 800) and health hotline (1450) provide public guidance .
Germany reported nearly 12,000 heat-related deaths by the end of July, according to the Robert Koch Institute, surpassing the 2018 record of 8,900. The institute uses statistical models to estimate excess mortality linked to high temperatures, as heat rarely causes direct death but exacerbates existing conditions such as cardiovascular, lung, or kidney diseases .
Other European countries also faced significant heat-related mortality. France recorded 7,300 excess deaths, Spain 5,000, and the United Kingdom 3,000. Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, and Italy reported similar increases .
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