Record heat and Belgium’s largest wildfire expose gaps in climate preparedness
Belgium’s weather institute said on 24 August that summer 2026 is on course to become the country’s hottest since measurements began, after a deadly June heatwave and the largest wildfire recorded in Belgium.
In 30 seconds
- The projected summer average is 20.3°C, compared with the 19.9°C record from 2018.
- Belgium experienced three official heatwaves and 15 days reaching at least 30°C by 23 August.
- Around 2,000 excess deaths were recorded between 18 June and 3 July.
- The High Fens fire affected about 3,000 hectares after starting on 14 August.
Belgium’s Royal Meteorological Institute said in on Monday, 24 August 2026, that this summer is on course to become the country’s hottest since records began in 1833. Updated: 24 August 2026, 16:30 CEST. The institute calculated a projected average temperature of 20.3°C, above the 19.9°C record set in 2018, after three official heatwaves and exceptionally dry conditions.
The human toll emerged before the season was over. Sciensano recorded 6,173 deaths between 18 June and 3 July, around 2,000 more than expected, according to figures reported by De Standaard. The public-health institute described the June episode as Belgium’s deadliest heatwave since comparable monitoring began in 2000. Excess mortality does not mean that heat appeared on every death certificate, but it measures how many more people died than the statistical baseline.
The season then produced another national record. A wildfire that started in the , Liège province, on 14 August burned about 3,000 hectares. The EU’s programme called it Belgium’s largest recorded wildfire and said several nearby villages were evacuated. By 18 August the fire was contained, although crews continued working on active areas.
Belgian Defence said around 500 responders were still involved on 19 August, with military firefighters, specialised vehicles and international aircraft supporting civilian teams. The European Commission said Belgium activated the and received aircraft or helicopters from Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and Germany.
The Royal Meteorological Institute linked the season’s heat and drought to persistent high-pressure systems and southerly airflows. It also placed them within a longer trend in which climate change makes Belgian heat and dry spells more frequent and intense. Between 1 July and 15 August, Uccle experienced its third-driest such period since rainfall measurements began there in 1892.
The immediate lessons concern both institutions and households. Heat plans depend on warnings reaching older people, chronically ill residents and those living alone; checking on neighbours becomes a public-health measure during prolonged heat. Fire services face a separate challenge: difficult terrain, shifting winds and dry vegetation require specialist equipment, common procedures and cross-border support.
Where this is happening
View on map High Fens →Authorities must now establish the High Fens fire’s cause, assess ecological damage and review the emergency response. Final summer statistics will follow after 31 August, while Sciensano’s mortality totals remain subject to later registration and analysis.
What to do
During future official heatwaves, check Royal Meteorological Institute warnings and make direct contact with older people, people with health conditions and anyone living alone rather than relying only on general alerts. Keep homes as cool as practicable, limit strenuous activity during the hottest hours and seek health advice if heat causes concerning symptoms. In dry periods, follow local access restrictions and emergency instructions around the High Fens and other vulnerable natural areas. Residents should also review whether their home, workplace or care arrangements provide a workable plan for prolonged heat and power or service disruption.
Impact
Regional — Wallonia recorded the highest regional excess-mortality rate during the June heat period and later bore the direct effects of the High Fens fire. Responders and equipment were deployed from across Belgium, including Brussels and Flanders.
EvidenceWell established · 1 primary source + 4 official documents + 2 independent reporting sourcesExplore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
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Voices & reactions
What the main actors are doing
Reported positions, summarised — not direct quotationsClimate and public-health specialists
The Royal Meteorological Institute, Sciensano-linked evidence and climate-risk specialists frame stronger heat protection, adapted buildings, greener public space and lower greenhouse-gas emissions as complementary responses to a growing health threat.
Emergency-management authorities
Belgian Defence, police and civil-protection bodies place the immediate emphasis on operational readiness: specialist vehicles, trained crews, access routes, aerial support, common command procedures and rapid requests for assistance across borders.
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