Berlin : Around 12,500 people died due to heat in Germany from April 6 to August 2, 2026, according to the latest report on heat-related deaths issued by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
According to the data, heat is especially dangerous for older residents. At around 6,300, the most deaths were recorded in the age group 85 years or older. More than 3,100 of those who died were aged between 75 and 84, and nearly 1,900 between 65 and 74. Among those under 65, there were around 1,200 deaths.
A severe heatwave at the end of June this year took an especially tough toll, with the RKI expecting that around 9,600 people died as a result of heat in the week from June 22 to 28 alone. In many places in Germany, temperatures were around 40 degrees Celsius on those days, the report revealed.
According to the RKI, a heat-related increase in mortality typically becomes visible from a weekly mean temperature of 20 degrees. In the week from July 27 to August 2, 2026 the nationwide weekly mean temperature was 21.6 degrees.
