Portugal records 284 excess deaths during record-breaking heatwave

Portugal was among the countries most affected by two heatwaves that pushed temperatures up to 48 °C — a level classified as “extreme heat stress” under EU's Copernicus criteria.

Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

Portugal has reported 284 excess deaths linked to an intense heatwave that struck the country from late June into early July, according to updated figures from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

The majority of fatalities, over 70%, occurred among people aged 85 and older, while no excess mortality was recorded among those under 70.

This marks a sharp increase from the DGS’s initial estimate of 69 deaths.

The spike coincided with the country’s highest recorded temperature, 46.6°C, in Mora, Alentejo, during the final days of June.

According to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), nearly one-third of the country’s 90 weather stations either matched or exceeded their previous maximum temperature records for the month.

The DGS noted that, although the worst of the heatwave has passed, further deaths may still be registered, particularly in the Alentejo region, which continues to face extreme heat.

The agency said it would continue monitoring the situation and update figures as needed.

Portugal experienced two heatwaves in June, the most intense of which lasted from June 28 into early July.

The hottest day of the month was June 29, with a national average high of 38.5°C, 11.8°C above the monthly average, and a nighttime average of 28.7°C, 8.4°C above normal.

European heatwave

Across Europe, June 2025 was the hottest June ever recorded in Western Europe and the third hottest globally, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

Air temperatures exceeded 40°C across several countries, reaching above 46°C in parts of Spain and Portugal, where some regions approached 48°C, classified as “extreme heat stress” by C3S.

The unprecedented heat was driven by persistent high-pressure systems, so-called “heat domes”, which trapped hot air near the surface, intensifying ozone pollution and raising the risk of wildfires.

On June 30 and July 1, Western Europe recorded average daily temperatures of 24.9°C, matching the region’s all-time high for the month.

The overall average temperature for Western Europe in June 2025 was 20.49°C, making it the hottest June on record, surpassing the previous high set in 2003.