2 August, 2026(Nosheen): Belgium recorded the highest excess mortality in Europe during the late-June heatwave, according to Belgian media reports citing data from the European mortality monitoring network, EuroMOMO. EuroMOMO monitors and compares mortality trends across more than 20 European countries to identify unusual increases in deaths and assess the public health impact of events such as extreme weather.
According to Belgium’s public health institute, Sciensano, the country registered more than 2,000 excess deaths during the period of extreme heat. Belgium experienced an excess mortality rate of 48 percent, significantly higher than France, which recorded a 23 percent increase, and the Netherlands, where excess mortality reached 13 percent, despite similar high temperatures across these countries. Media reports also cited biostatistician Geert Molenberghs of KU Leuven and Hasselt University, who noted that residents of economically disadvantaged areas were disproportionately affected by the heatwave. He attributed the higher mortality to factors such as limited access to cooling, poorer housing conditions, and greater social vulnerability.
Public health experts have emphasized that the findings highlight the growing health risks associated with increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves linked to climate change. They have called for stronger heat action plans, targeted public awareness campaigns, and enhanced protection for vulnerable groups, including older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and low-income communities, to reduce heat-related mortality in the future.