Belgium's Deadly Summer: 3,000 Heat Deaths, Worst Wildfire in History

Belgium's summer of 2026 saw nearly 3,000 heat-related deaths and its worst wildfire on record, burning over 3,300 hectares in the Hautes Fagnes. The Le Soir series assesses the response of hospitals and emergency services, highlighting gaps in preparedness. This underscores the growing human and infrastructural toll of extreme heat in Western Europe.