Tourists shield themselves from the sun at Plaza Mayor during a heatwave in Madrid, Spain. (Photo: REUTERS/Susana Vera)

Between 2000 and 2019, extreme heat caused about 489,000 deaths annually, with 36% of fatalities in Europe and 45% in Asia, the UN agency said in a new report. Global temperatures continue to rise, and July 2025 is on track to be the third hottest July on record, after 2023 and 2024.

Europe has been hit by record-breaking heatwaves, including a new national high of 50.5 degrees Celsius in Turkey. In Asia, above-average temperatures have gripped many regions, with readings last week exceeding 42 degrees Celsius across Western and South-Central Asia.

The WMO said it is strengthening its heat early warning system under the “Early Warnings for All” initiative and working with global and regional partners to help countries develop health action plans and deliver timely alerts to protect populations from extreme heat.