More than 10,000 additional deaths were recorded across Europe during the record heatwave that swept through western parts of the continent in late June, according to official death data cited by Reuters.Figures from EuroMOMO, a mortality monitoring network supported by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization, showed that 10,650 excess deaths were recorded during the week of June 22-28, when the heatwave peaked across France, Spain, Britain and several other countries.Of these, more than 9,000 deaths were among people aged 65 and over, highlighting the severe impact of extreme heat on older populations.Scientists say the late June heatwave would have been “practically impossible” without human-caused climate change, which is making heatwaves more frequent, intense and longer-lasting, the agency reported.Extreme heat can be fatal by causing heat stroke or worsening cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with the elderly remaining most at risk.EuroMOMO’s figures are based on national death statistics from 27 European countries and measure excess deaths from all causes, not just those officially classified as heat-related.
The researchers said there were no other major contributing factors, such as the Covid-19 outbreak, that could explain the sharp rise in deaths during the week. The agency indicated that the numbers may be revised as additional data becomes available.While EuroMOMO does not publish country-level excess death figures, it said France and Belgium were the only countries to record a “very high increase in deaths” during the last week of June.Belgian public health institute Sinsano said the country recorded the highest excess mortality rate during the heat wave since records began in 2000.The heatwave has disrupted daily life across Europe, leading to power outages, school closures and record temperatures in countries such as France, Spain and the United Kingdom.A separate scientific study published on Monday estimated that about 2,700 people died from heat-related causes in England and Wales during heatwaves in May and June.Researchers from Imperial College London, the UK Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that 42% of those deaths were attributable to additional heat caused by climate change.Germany has also recorded an estimated 5,120 heat-related deaths so far this year, most of which occurred during an extreme heatwave in late June, according to the country’s public health agency.The extreme weather also led to a sharp rise in drowning incidents.
According to The Guardian, 99 people drowned in June, making it the highest monthly drowning toll in the country in more than two decades.Temperatures in parts of Germany rose to 41.7 degrees Celsius (107.1 degrees Fahrenheit) during the heatwave, prompting large numbers of people to seek relief in lakes, rivers and other bodies of water.Officials said the majority of the victims were young people, and 40 of the victims were under 30 years old. More than 90% of those who died were male, according to the German Life Saving Federation.Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme heat events, making heatwaves one of the most serious weather-related hazards worldwide.
