Extreme heat linked to thousands of excess deaths in Belgium

Yesterday 18:00

By: Azzat Manal

Extreme heat linked to thousands of excess deaths in Belgium

Belgium recorded an estimated 2,935 excess deaths during three heatwaves that affected the country between mid-June and mid-August 2026, according to an updated report released Thursday by the national public health institute Sciensano.

The latest heatwave, which hit Belgium during the first half of August, was associated with a 7% increase in mortality compared with the expected level, corresponding to around 365 additional deaths. This came after 2,570 excess deaths recorded during heatwaves in June and July.

The impact varied across Belgium’s regions. Wallonia, in the south of the country, recorded more excess deaths than Flanders. Increased mortality was observed in both Wallonia and Flanders, as well as in Brussels, during the June and July heatwaves, while a comparable rise was not recorded across the regions during the August episode.

The report also found differences in the age groups most affected. In Flanders and Brussels, excess deaths were mainly recorded among people under the age of 85, while in Wallonia the increase was concentrated among those aged 85 and over.

The figures come as several European countries experienced an exceptionally hot summer, highlighting the growing health risks associated with prolonged periods of extreme temperatures. France, in particular, experienced three major heatwaves in 2026, including one that lasted 23 days.

French Environment Minister Monique Barbut said the summer of 2026 was the hottest recorded in France since national temperature records began in 1900. The intense heat was accompanied by drought conditions and widespread wildfires.

By the end of August, the area destroyed by fires in France was estimated to be six times higher than the average burned area recorded over the previous two decades, according to the minister.

The latest data from Belgium and France underscore the wider health and environmental consequences of increasingly severe heat episodes across Europe. Public health authorities have repeatedly warned that older people and other vulnerable groups are particularly exposed to the effects of prolonged heat, while extreme temperatures can also place additional pressure on healthcare systems and emergency services.