Experts release latest findings: More than 4,700 people have died — and the worst is yet to come

Last month was also the second-hottest June globally, while the planet recorded the highest sea surface temperatures ever observed for the month of June, according to the European Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) in its monthly bulletin, Reuters reported.The average temperature in Western Europe last month reached 20.74 degrees Celsius, more than 3 degrees above the 1991&ndash;2020 June average, according to the latest data.Western Europe has endured three intense heatwaves in the past three months, and several countries, including Spain and Portugal, have once again been hit by extreme heat this week. &ldquo;June 2026 showed just how profoundly the climate is changing,&rdquo; said Samantha Burgess, a senior official at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), adding that increasingly intense heatwaves, persistently warmer oceans, and growing risks to people, ecosystems, and infrastructure are being seen across Europe.National authorities have reported more than 4,700 excess deaths in France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands during the June heatwave, while the total number across other countries is likely to be even higher, Reuters reported.Extreme temperatures also fueled wildfires across the Iberian Peninsula and France, while at the same time worsening drought conditions. Globally, the Copernicus Climate Change Service said that several factors contributed to sea surface temperatures reaching a record high for June, including the development of a strong El Ni&ntilde;o event in the Pacific Ocean.El Ni&ntilde;o did not contribute to the June heatwave in Europe, while climate change clearly played a role in intensifying the extreme temperatures, according to a scientific study.Copernicus temperature records date back to 1940 and are cross-checked with global datasets extending as far back as 1850, Reuters noted.

Experts release latest findings: More than 4,700 people have died — and the worst is yet to come

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