RKI: Zahl der Hitzetoten in Deutschland steigt auf 12.500

By the beginning of August, the number of heat-related deaths in Germany had risen to an estimated 12,500, according to the Robert-Koch-Institute (RKI). This increase came after 2,700 additional fatalities were reported since mid-July, surpassing the previous peak years of 2018 and 2019, which saw around 7,000 deaths each. The most deadly week in June contributed to the majority of these fatalities, accounting for nearly 9,600 deaths.

The overall excess mortality for this peak and the following two weeks is estimated by the RKI at 14,500 cases. The data suggests that seniors are at the greatest risk, with over half of the victims - around 6,200 people - being 85 years or older. The RKI attributes the higher number of female fatalities in the general statistics to their higher representation in the older age groups.

Among the younger age groups under 75, more men died from heat-related causes. Since doctors rarely directly note the impact of heat on death certificates, the authority calculates these figures using statistical models, which typically show increased mortality when the average daily temperature exceeds 20 degrees. In the week leading up to early August, this average temperature in Germany reached 21.6 degrees.

Thirteen federal states recorded temperatures above the critical 20-degree threshold during this period.