Brussels, July 10, 2026 – The Europe Today: Belgium has recorded its deadliest heatwave since national monitoring began in 2000, with 1,747 excess deaths linked to the prolonged period of extreme temperatures that swept across the country in late June, according to the national public health institute, Sciensano.
In a statement, Sciensano said that 1,747 excess deaths were recorded between June 18 and July 1, representing a 47.8 percent increase over the expected mortality rate during the same period.
Preliminary figures released last week had indicated that 1,222 people died during the heatwave between June 18 and June 29. However, updated data covering a longer period revealed a significantly higher death toll.
According to the institute, the exceptionally high mortality was driven by a combination of three major factors: the prolonged duration of the heatwave, the intensity of the extreme temperatures, and elevated ozone concentrations, all of which reached exceptionally high levels during the period.
Health authorities warned that Belgium could face another spell of extreme heat in the coming days, with weather forecasts predicting maximum temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius for at least five consecutive days beginning tomorrow.
The latest figures highlight the growing public health risks associated with increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, prompting authorities to urge vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, to take precautionary measures during periods of extreme heat.
