Belgium's heat wave kills 1,200 — government faces fierce criticism

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Belgium’s federal government is facing mounting criticism after health authorities linked last week’s record-breaking heat wave to over 1,200 excess deaths, prompting opposition parties to accuse ministers of failing to protect the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

Socialist Party leader Paul Magnette led the criticism Thursday evening after the health ministry confirmed 1,222 excess deaths between June 18 and June 29. “1222 deaths during the recent heat wave episode, a 39 percent excess mortality rate, and … 0 measures taken by the federal government!” Magnette wrote on X .

“The climate and public health emergency, at the cost of hundreds of lives, has failed to shake the lethargy of the ministers,” Magnette said. With further heat waves expected this summer, he warned: “We’re talking about human lives.”

The figures came after what scientists have described as Europe’s most severe heat wave on record, which stretched from roughly June 20 to June 28 and strained hospitals, disrupted infrastructure and affected power generation across the continent.

The country’s health ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the country recorded an unprecedented spike in mortality during the period, including more than 530 deaths among people aged over 85 and around 180 among those under 65. “Such excess mortality during a heat wave is unprecedented in our country,” the ministry added.

Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke defended the government’s response, arguing that hospitals and care homes had been prepared and that protecting vulnerable people “is a problem of society.” But he acknowledged failings elsewhere, saying that Belgium’s emergency number 112 “did not function properly” during the heat wave and that he had asked Interior Minister Bernard Quintin to take “stronger measures.”

Vandenbroucke has ordered an evaluation of the response and asked Belgium’s Risk Management Group to deliver recommendations next week ahead of a meeting of health ministers aimed at strengthening the country’s preparations before the next heat wave arrives.