As per reports, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe has warned on Tuesday (07 July) that Europe could face additional weeks of extreme heat, as another intense heatwave is forecast to develop over the Atlantic Ocean and affect parts of the continent during the coming days.

• According to the WHO, Portugal and southern Spain are expected to experience temperatures of up to 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) later this week, while France and the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) are also preparing for another period of unusually high temperatures.
• In response to the developing conditions, the WHO Regional Director for Europe convened an emergency coordination meeting on Monday (06 July) involving representatives from 41 WHO European Member States, the European Commission, and civil society organizations to review lessons from the recent heatwave and strengthen preparedness for further extreme heat events.
• The WHO noted that countries with established Heat-Health Action Plans responded more rapidly during the 20 June to 28 June heatwave by coordinating meteorological warnings, healthcare surge capacity, emergency response, and public outreach. However, fewer than half of WHO European Member States currently have national heat-health action plans, leaving many countries more vulnerable to future extreme heat events.
• The previous heatwave, which affected much of Europe between 20 June and 28 June, has been described by experts as the most severe heatwave recorded in Europe. The event caused widespread disruption to electricity generation, transport and public infrastructure, and placed significant pressure on healthcare systems.
• Preliminary estimates indicate that approximately 3,700 excess deaths were recorded across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, although authorities have cautioned that mortality figures remain provisional and may increase as further assessments are completed.
• The WHO further warned that vulnerable populations, including older adults, residents of long-term care facilities, homeless individuals, and socially isolated persons, continue to face elevated risks during periods of extreme heat and are not consistently reached by emergency response measures.