PARIS: France, the Netherlands and Belgium recorded an additional 3,700 deaths during a June heatwave that sent temperatures across Europe soaring, with authorities warning the numbers are preliminary and could rise.
Experts said the heatwave, which lasted from approximately June 20 to 28, was the worst on record in Europe, disrupting power generation, damaging infrastructure and overwhelming healthcare systems. Scientists said the extreme heat was almost certainly caused by climate change.French Health Minister Stephanie Rest told local television on Friday that 2,025 excess deaths were recorded in France during the heatwave, with a particular increase in deaths among those over the age of 45.
The country’s Public Health Authority said in a bulletin that deaths at home rose by 91% between June 22 and 28 compared to the previous week, while deaths in nursing homes and health care facilities also increased. “Deaths will.
The authority warned that these initial numbers will be higher than what these initial numbers indicate.In Belgium, the Ministry of Health said on Thursday that it recorded excess deaths of about 1,200 deaths between June 18 and 29, adding that 530 of the deaths were among people aged 85 years or older. People under the age of 65 accounted for 180 excess deaths. The ministry said: “Such excess deaths during a heat wave are unprecedented in our country.” Authorities in the Netherlands said that the heat wave led to the death of about 480 people, most of them among people over the age of 80.(This is a Reuters report)
