One week of extreme heat in Europe linked to 16,000 excess deaths: Report

A week of extreme heat in Europe in late June resulted in approximately 16,000 excess deaths, according to a report by the European Mortality Monitoring Network. The majority of these deaths were concentrated in northern Europe, particularly France, Belgium, and Germany, where populations are less accustomed to prolonged extreme heat and have fewer systems in place to cope with high temperatures.

While southern Europe experienced higher temperatures, the impact in northern Europe was far greater than in previous winters, where excess deaths are typically recorded during colder months due to respiratory illnesses. The mortality spike was unprecedented, with the June heatwave causing more excess deaths than any single week of the previous winter.

As Europe faced another round of extreme heat in August, with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius in several regions, the episode highlights the growing health risks associated with rising temperatures. The heatwave also contributed to wildfires, forcing thousands to evacuate in western Germany, and disrupted power supplies and school closures across western Europe.

The latest mortality figures raise concerns about the need for better preparedness and protection measures as heatwaves become more frequent and intense.