Belgium's Deadly Summer 2026: 3,000 Heat Deaths, Worst Fire on Record

Belgium's summer 2026 saw nearly 3,000 premature deaths from extreme heat, with Wallonia hardest hit, and the country's worst-ever wildfire burning over 3,300 hectares on the Hautes Fagnes plateau. Preliminary analysis from Cerac indicates significant economic losses, though full figures are pending. This marks a climate-driven public health and economic shock, highlighting regional vulnerability to heat extremes.