Germany has recorded a staggering 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer.
Relentless heatwaves pushed temperatures beyond 40C and intensified across Europe.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, about 9,600 deaths occurred during a single week in late June, when extreme heat gripped the country.
The previous record was around 8,900 deaths in 2018.
So, why are the numbers so high? Health officials say extreme heat can be deadly on its own.
But it can also worsen existing medical conditions.
Older people were particularly vulnerable, with those over 75 accounting for the largest share of deaths.
Heatwave Grips Europe
Germany is not alone. Spain has reported nearly 4,500 heat-related deaths since June.
France has recorded more than 7,300 excess deaths.
The heat has also brought wider problems, from drought and wildfires to damaged crops.
Falling water levels in rivers crucial for transporting goods.
Officials stress that heat-related deaths are often difficult to identify because heat is not always listed as the direct cause of death.
With Europe experiencing increasingly severe heatwaves, the question is becoming harder to ignore.
How much hotter and deadlier can summers become before governments act?
