Four consecutive strong heatwaves recorded in Europe this summer have caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people.
Modern.az reports that "TRT Haber" released information about this.
It is reported that, based on official data covering approximately half of the continent and not yet finalized, at least 35,000 additional deaths have been recorded compared to normal periods. Especially in Germany, France, and Spain, the total number of additional deaths exceeded 25,000.
Experts believe that the final figure may be higher, as heat is not directly recorded as a cause of death in many cases, and data for August has not yet been fully entered into statistical systems.
Historical records in Germany and Spain
Germany was the country with the most recorded deaths related to extreme hot weather. According to the Robert Koch Institute, approximately 14,000 people died from high temperature-related causes in the country from early April to early August. In the last week of June alone, 9,600 deaths were recorded in Germany. According to the information, this is considered the deadliest summer season in the country since relevant statistics began to be kept. In Spain, the Carlos III Health Institute announced that approximately 5,000 people have died due to heatwaves since May. Thus, the heat-related death rate in Spain reached its highest level in history, surpassing the record of 2022.
Losses also increasing in France, Italy, and England
In France, temperatures above 40 degrees were recorded at hundreds of meteorological stations. More than 7,000 additional deaths were recorded in the country between the end of May and the end of July. However, this figure is expected to increase as initial data is based only on electronic death certificates. In Italy, data is collected from local administrative bodies. Based on the modeling carried out, the total number of heat-related deaths in the country is predicted to be between 5,000 and 8,000. In England, heatwaves in May and June are estimated to have caused approximately 2,900 deaths. A significant increase in death rates has also been recorded in other European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland.
Hot weather exacerbates chronic diseases
According to health experts, extremely hot temperatures are not directly recorded as a cause of death in most cases. Hot weather exacerbates existing chronic problems such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and kidney diseases, increasing the risk of death. For this reason, it may take months to determine the real statistics of heat-related deaths. Data from the World Health Organization also notes that heat-related deaths in the European region have increased by more than 30 percent in the last 20 years due to global warming caused by the climate crisis and an aging population. Temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in various parts of the continent once again demonstrate the threat that climate change poses to human health.
