Vienna:Austria experienced a record-breaking number of heat-related deaths last summer, with an estimated 1,008 fatalities. This marks the highest figure since the country began tracking such data in 2017.

According to Wam, the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) announced that the unprecedented number of deaths occurred between June and September 2026. The fatalities were attributed to exceptional heatwaves that swept across Austria, setting new temperature records.

The surge in heat-related deaths coincided with Austria's hottest summer on record. GeoSphere Austria, which operates over 100 weather stations, reported new temperature highs. In Vienna, temperatures soared to 41°C, surpassing the previous national record of 40.5°C set in 2013.