The 35,000 figure is a preliminary estimate of EXCESS deaths during the summer 2026 heatwaves, not a general or annual total of heat-related deaths in Europe; the claim presents it without specifying the period.
The sources state 'at least 35,000' (a lower bound); the MEP presents 35,000 as an exact point figure.
The headline figure is drawn from a rapid attribution analysis reported in the press; the underlying primary study/report was not located in the available searches, so the figure rests on essentially one independent secondary source (the Irish Times piece reproduces the same Guardian report).
Other independent estimates for narrower windows differ in scope (e.g. a Zenodo analysis attributing 20,390 heat-related deaths to 22–28 June 2026, and an LSHTM estimate of 2,700+ heat-related deaths in England and Wales in May–June 2026), so the European total is a composite of sub-national/partial-period data.
SecondaryThe Guardian"At least 35,000 more people died during Europe's four record-breaking, back-to-back heatwaves this summer than would normally be expected"
SecondaryThe Irish Times"At least 35,000 more people died during Europe's four record-breaking, back-to-back heatwaves this summer than would normally be expected"