NEW DELHI: Around 16,000 more people than expected died across Europe during a week of extreme heat in late June, according to a report based on data from the European Mortality Monitoring Network (EuroMOMO).
The sharp increase in deaths came as temperatures soared across large parts of the continent, with several countries recording temperatures far above seasonal averages.
According to the report cited by The New York Times, most of the excess deaths were recorded in northern Europe, particularly France, Belgium and Germany. These countries are generally less accustomed to prolonged periods of extreme heat and have fewer systems designed to cope with sustained high temperatures.
Temperatures crossed 100 degrees Fahrenheit across large parts of Spain and Italy in late June. However, the steepest rise in mortality was recorded in north-western Europe, where temperatures were significantly higher than normal for the time of year.
The scale of the increase was unusual for Europe, where excess mortality is typically more pronounced during winter because of respiratory illnesses. The number of excess deaths during the June heatwave reportedly exceeded the total recorded in any single week of the previous winter.
Extreme Heat Continues
The mortality spike came as Europe experienced another spell of extreme heat in August. Brussels recorded its hottest day on record on August 14, with temperatures reaching 35.9°C, according to Belgium’s weather agency IRM. Areas inhabited by at least 150 million people experienced temperatures above 35°C that day.
Extreme heat has also contributed to several wildfires across the continent. A major wildfire in western Germany that forced thousands of residents to evacuate was brought under control on Saturday, although authorities said residents had not yet been allowed to return.
The New York Times reported that June was western Europe’s hottest June on record.
Researchers use “excess deaths” — the number of deaths above what would normally be expected based on historical patterns — to assess the health impact of extreme temperatures.
EuroMOMO does not publish country-specific excess mortality figures, but said France and Belgium were the only European countries to record “very high excess” mortality during the final week of June.
Belgium recorded its highest heatwave-related excess mortality since records began in 2000, according to the country’s public health institute Sciensano.
Heatwaves Becoming More Dangerous
A major heatwave in 2022 was also associated with more than 16,000 excess deaths across Europe in a single week, according to EuroMOMO data. However, the most intense temperatures that year were concentrated mainly in southern Europe.
The latest figures highlight the growing health risks posed by increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves and have renewed questions over how European countries can better protect vulnerable populations as extreme temperatures become more common.
Earlier reports said the June heatwave also disrupted power supplies, forced school closures and broke temperature records in France, Spain and the UK.
