In brief
In the hottest summer on record, Austria reached a new all‑time temperature of 41.2 °C and recorded 1,008 heat‑related deaths between June and September. Vienna alone accounted for 229, followed by Lower Austria with 223. The health agency warns that extreme heat stresses the heart, lungs, kidneys and circulatory system, raising mortality during and after heat waves.
In a record‑breaking summer, Austria recorded 1,008 heat‑related deaths between June and September, the most ever in a single season according to the ministry of health. The figure surpasses the 989 deaths estimated for 2024, the previous hottest summer. Vienna led the toll with 229 deaths, and the neighboring state of Lower Austria added 223.
The summer was the hottest on record for the country. On 4 August, temperatures in Vienna reached 41 °C, breaking the former national record of 40.5 °C set in 2013. A day later, a new all‑time high of 41.2 °C was recorded in Lower Austria.
Health officials from the Agency for Health and Food Safety said extreme heat can place significant stress on the heart, circulatory system, kidneys and lungs, especially for people with pre‑existing conditions. They noted that deaths tend to increase during periods of extreme heat and in the days that follow, compared with periods of moderate temperatures.
Experts say the rise in heat‑related mortality reflects a broader trend of higher temperatures and more frequent heatwaves due to climate change. The 1,008 deaths underscore the urgent need for public health measures such as heat advisories, resilient infrastructure and protection for vulnerable populations.
