Europe heat wave linked to over 10,000 excess deaths in June spike
8 reported
A heat wave that struck Europe early and intensely this year appears to have caused a spike in deaths, with well over 10,000 more people dying at its peak than normally expected, according to emerging figures. The EuroMOMO mortality monitoring hub estimated 14,260 excess deaths from all causes in the week ending June 28, with over 12,000 of those among people aged 65 and older. Experts caution that many heat-related deaths may never be formally recorded as such, and a full picture takes time to emerge. The frequency and intensity of heat waves are supercharged by climate change from burning fossil fuels, the article states. Individual countries have issued their own estimates, including Germany attributing 6,830 deaths to heat through early July, and Britain reporting 2,700 heat-related deaths in England and Wales during May and June. France recorded at least 2,000 more deaths in the week of June 22-28 than the previous week, while Spain attributed an estimated 937 deaths in June to excess heat. Belgium reported 1,747 excess deaths during its heat wave from June 18 to July 1, and the Netherlands had an initial estimate of 480 more deaths than expected.
What’s reported
EuroMOMO estimated 14,260 excess deaths from all causes in the week ending June 28, with over 12,000 among people aged 65 and older.
Germany’s Robert Koch Institute attributed 6,830 deaths to heat through early July, 6,470 among people 65 and older.
Britain’s Met Office said 2,700 people are believed to have died from heat-related causes in England and Wales in May and June.
France’s public health authority reported at least 2,000 more deaths in the week of June 22-28 than the previous week.
Spain’s Carlos III Health Institute attributed an estimated 937 deaths in June to excess heat.
Belgium’s Sciensano reported 1,747 deaths above usual expectations during the heat wave from June 18 to July 1.
The Netherlands’ public health service gave an initial estimate of 480 more deaths than expected.
The 2003 heat wave in Europe remains the deadliest, with about 70,000 deaths.
Key figures
Lasse Vestergaard of Denmark's Statens Serum Institut, which coordinates EuroMOMO
Robert Koch Institute (Germany’s disease control center)
Britain’s Met Office
France’s public health authority
Carlos III Health Institute (Spain)
Sciensano (Belgium’s public health institute)
Netherlands’ public health service
Sources: abcnews.com
